EastEnders star dies aged 92: Derek Martin who thrilled soap fans as devoted father Charlie Slater passes away

Beloved actor Derek Martin, who played passionate father and taxi driver Charlie Slater in EastEnders, has died at the age of 92.

It was learned that the former East End butcher, who entered the world of acting without any training or going on stage, died in the hospital last night.

Tributes poured in for the late actor, who was described as ‘a truly wonderful person who is very talented in the film industry and many other things’.

Martin played a variety of roles over more than fifty years, but was best known for playing the beloved Charlie Slater in EastEnders for 15 years.

His character was a taxi driver who first came to Walford in 2000 with his mother-in-law Mo Harris and their four daughters Lynne, Kat, Little Mo and Zoe.

The mild-mannered taxi driver was beloved for his role as the loyal, protective patriarch of the mostly female Slater family.

Martin, who was born in Bow, east London, in April 1933, left the series after his character suffered a fatal heart attack in 2016.

He previously revealed how he started his acting career after leaving his job at Smithfield Meat Market in 1962. He also did National Service in the Royal Air Force and held many jobs, including digging roads, working in factories, motor racing and professional gambling.

But he later managed to land his dream job, explaining: ‘I’ve always been a huge film fan for as long as I can remember. There were dozens of cinemas in the East End where I grew up, and some of my earliest memories were of going to the movies. ‘When I was a young man I went at least 3 times a week.’

Charlie arrived in Walford with his four daughters, Kat (pictured), Lynne, Little Mo and Zoe, and his mother-in-law, Big Mo Harris.

The late player said that he found himself a manager by going to a cafe in Soho where he knew players often went.

Martin began his acting career as a stuntman, appearing in various episodes of Doctor Who. However, he turned to acting after breaking his collarbone during the filming of the drama Elizabeth R in 1971.

In the following years Martin became a familiar face on television; He appeared in programs such as Z-Cars, Softly Softly, The Sweeney, Minder, Bergerac and The Bill.

He said the role that launched his career was as Detective Inspector Fred Pyle on Law and Order in 1977. The series highlighted the injustices caused by police corruption.

He also played Ronald King in King and Castle and Gary Marshall in The Governor, but his best-known role was as Charlie Slater in EastEnders, which he took on in 2000.

Off screen, Martin had a passion for golf and football and was a member of the Great Order of Water Rats, a recreational charity and fraternity founded in 1889.

Other members of the Great Order of Water Rats today spoke fondly of Martin, who took on the role of ‘King Rat’ from 2010 to 2011.

As is customary when one of their members passes away, they will pay their respects to him at a meeting today. Those who knew Martin will pay tribute to the ‘distinguished’ actor by saying goodbye.

Ian Richards, also a former King Mouse, wrote on Facebook today: ‘So sad to hear of the passing of PKR Derek Martin, the ‘king of the eggs’, if you know, you know.

‘He was a truly warm and funny man and his company always made me laugh out loud; his enormous charitable deeds went largely unreported but never ignored by those who knew him well. RIP Derek the world is a sadder place without you.’

Ventriloquist and Water Rats member Steve Hewlett said: ‘Derek Martin will be truly missed. The Water Rats made my visits magical and fun. RIP sir.’

And another Water Rat friend, Ian Henry, wrote: ‘He was a pleasure to be with. He had many stories and was a very funny man. He achieved much in his long and distinguished career; especially his portrayal of the iconic character Charlie Slater in Eastenders for many years. His presence will be sorely missed.’

Martin was married twice, to Christine Rigg and Gloria Mitchell, but both ended in divorce. They had two sons, Jonathan and David.

During his 15 years on EastEnders, Charlie Slater became one of the soap’s best-loved characters and was involved in many family scandals.

Charlie, who came to the soap following the death of his wife Viv, had a brief fling with co-host Peggy Mitchell before dating Brenda Boyle.

He was sentenced to three months in prison for attacking Little Mo’s rapist Graham Foster (Alex McSweeney) in the Queen Victoria pub in 2004.

The taxi driver also played a key role in the controversial 2011 storyline in which Kat and Ronnie Branning’s newborn baby was relocated after the bartender’s toddler died of cot death.

Charlie left the square after being blamed for the incident by Kat for leaving Tommy alone while he went out drinking.

He subsequently made brief guest appearances between 2011 and 2013, returning full-time shortly before his off-screen death in 2016.

Derek celebrated his 90th birthday in 2023 and was joined by his two sons, David and Jonathan, for this milestone.

The actor has spoken openly about his own son David’s past struggles with depression, as his character deals with a similar situation on screen.

In Walford in 2016, her great-niece Stacey Branning was suffering from post-natal psychosis and depression.

‘I told Stacey’s story at work. “I then arrived home and saw my son, who I had been worrying about all day, who was suffering from severe depression,” she previously told The Sun.

Derek stated that the ‘miserable’ soap should bring back its humorous side in 2022.

Charlie Slater was last seen in EastEnders in 2016, when the beloved taxi driver suffered a heart attack and died off-screen.

During her 15 years on EastEnders, she became one of the soap’s best-loved characters and was involved in many family scandals.

The actor said the show should stop focusing on appealing to younger viewers and bring back some of the old writers.

Speaking to The Sun, Derek admitted the show had lost its focus on key families such as the Slaters, Mitchells and Fowlers.

He added that the show has focused on appealing to younger audiences and no longer features lighter elements in favor of ‘relationships and beating people up’.

Derek said: ‘You’ve got to have humor because there’s always something to laugh at in life.

‘Back in the day, Charlie, Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) and Jim Branning (John Bardon) would sit around in the allotments and talk nonsense over a few beers. This is what happens in real life. You need that in EastEnders.

‘I have nothing against young people. They’ll come, but it’s like the BBC are trying to turn EastEnders into Hollyoaks with lots of teenagers and everyone having affairs and beating people up.’

Outside of EastEnders, she starred in Celebrity Coach Trip with co-star John Altman in 2012.