Mr Martin performed the character between 2000 and 2011, and made visitor appearances within the years following that, with Charlie that includes in quite a few main storylines.
His last EastEnders look was in 2016, along with his character struggling a deadly coronary heart assault.
Now, his household have paid tribute to him as a “buddy” who “supported us by our highs and lows.”
A press release from his household, shared by his agent Sharon Henry, mentioned: “It’s with nice unhappiness that I can verify that our beloved consumer Derek Martin handed away on January 10, 2026.
“For over 50 years, Derek was a really genuine working-class voice in British tv and movie.
“Derek wasn’t only a dad to us he was a buddy and supported us by our highs and lows. He by no means stopped studying, he liked assembly individuals and was all the time beneficiant along with his time. We each miss him terribly.
“The household ask that their privateness be revered at this troublesome time.”
Derek Martin has died on the age of 92
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Derek Martin alongside different EastEnders solid members in 2005
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Born as Derek William Rapp in Bow, east London in 1933, he bought his begin within the leisure business as a stuntman on programmes similar to Physician Who.
Nonetheless, after breaking his collarbone whereas filming Elizabeth R in 1971, Martin switched to appearing.
He appeared in a single off roles on programmes together with Legislation & Order, Solely Fools and Horses, The Sweeney, Z Automobiles and The Invoice.
Martin additionally had a movie profession, showing in intercourse comedies together with Secrets and techniques of a Windmill Lady in 1966 and Adventures of a Plumber’s Mate in 1978, in addition to a minor function within the Academy Award nominated Ragtime, the ultimate movie appearances of James Cagney and Pat O’Brien.
Derek alongside Matt Di Angelo, Charlie Clements, Robert Kazinsky and James Alexandrou
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He’s well-known amongst British audiences as taxicab driver and household patriarch Charlie Slater in EasEtnders.
An EastEnders spokesman mentioned: “We’re deeply saddened to listen to of the passing of Derek Martin. From the second he arrived, Derek’s portrayal of Charlie Slater immediately cemented him within the hearts of the viewers, as the pinnacle of one in every of EastEnders’ most iconic households.
“Charlie would do something for his household, and very like his character, Derek would do the identical for these round him. Derek was deeply liked by all those who labored with him at EastEnders and can all the time be remembered with nice fondness.
“Our love and ideas are along with his household and buddies.”
Derek Martin in 2005
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Discussing his path into appearing on his web site, he mentioned: “I had all the time been an enormous movie fan for so long as I can bear in mind.
“The place I grew up, within the East Finish, there have been dozens of cinemas and a few of my earliest recollections are of going off to the cinema. After I was a younger man I might go a minimum of 3 times per week.”
“With a purpose to discover an agent I went to a café in Soho which I knew actors frequented. I requested round and bought a quantity and telephoned the agent for an appointment. I bluffed them saying I had finished some rep work within the North.
“I used to be provided a job on Z Automobiles the following week. It turned out to be three days work as a stroll on, I used to be paid three guineas a day. That was my begin. From walk-ons I then went into doing stunt work, earlier than carving out profession as a personality actor.”
