EASTENDERS star Derek Martin has died aged 92.

The actor, best known for his role as Charlie Slater on the long-running BBC soap opera, passed away in hospital last night.

His heartbroken family said they would “miss him terribly” in a statement released through his agent Sharon Henry.

It read: “Derek wasn’t just a dad to us he was a friend and supported us through our highs and lows.

“He never stopped learning, he loved meeting people and was always generous with his time. We both miss him terribly.

“The family ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time.”

Sharon hailed her time working with Derek as a “privilege” in a touching tribute.

She said: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm that our beloved client Derek Martin passed away on 10th January 2026.

“For over 50 years, Derek was a truly authentic working-class voice in British television and film.

“It was a privilege to be a part of his creative journey in a career which included highlights such as Law And Order for the BBC and two series of The Governor produced by La Plante Productions.

“He is best known for his role on EastEnders, where he cherished his time portraying Charlie Slater.

“Derek was a devoted father, a generous member of the charitable Water Rats, avid golfer and all-around good man who will be greatly missed.”

Derek began his career in the entertainment industry as a stuntman on programmes including Doctor Who.

However, this career came to a end after he broke his collar bone while filming a drama in 1971.

Derek ventured into the world of acting and quickly landed himself feature roles in a variety of TV shows and films.

Some of his early movie appearances include Secrets of a Windmill Girl in 1966, as well as The Sex Thief, Eskimo Nell and Sex Express in the 70s.

He went on to appear in Adventures of a Plumber’s Mate in 1978, Ragtime, Spaghetti House in the 80s and Boston Kickout in 1995.

Derek also co-starred in the BBC show Law & Order in the late 1970s, before going on to lead as Det. Insp. Berwick in The Chinese Detective.

In 1982, he became the second actor to take on the role of Detective Inspector Jack Frost.

Derek played R. D. Wingfield’s fictional copper in a BBC radio adaptation of A Touch of Frost.

The actor also appeared on Minder, Doctor Who, Upstairs, Downstairs, The Bill and Only Fools and Horses.

He even made a cameo in and episode of Little Britain, but his most notable role was playing Charlie Slater in EastEnders.

He acted on the popular soap from 2000 to 2011, with brief return appearances in 2013 and 2016.

An EastEnders spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Derek Martin.

“From the moment he arrived, Derek’s portrayal of Charlie Slater instantly cemented him in the hearts of the audience, as the head of one of EastEnders’ most iconic families.

“Charlie would do anything for his family, and much like his character, Derek would do the same for those around him.

“Derek was deeply loved by all those that worked with him at EastEnders and will always be remembered with great fondness.

“Our love and thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Charlie Slater was a cab driver who first arrived in Walford in 2000 with his mother-in-law Mo Harris.

They were joined by his four daughters Lynne, Kat, Little Mo, and Zoe as well as Lynne’s boyfriend Gary Hobbs.

His late wife Viv Slater died a year before he first appeared on screen.

She was only shown in flashbacks when Kat attempted suicide and also in the spin-off episode Eastenders: Pat and Mo.

Derek’s character was ultimately killed off after suffering a heart attack.

Charlie’s biggest storylines included being charged with GBH for attacking Little Mo’s rapist Graham Foster and locking him in his taxi.

When his great-niece Stacey Slater arrived on the scene he acted as a father figure and supported her through her bipolar disorder.

Derek said in 2022 the soap had become “irrelevant” and “miserable” and begged writers to bring the comedy back into it.

“You’ve got to have humour, because there’s always something to laugh about in life,” he told us.

“You used to have Charlie, Patrick (Rudolph Walker) and Jim (John Bardon) sitting at the allotments with a few beers, just talking about silly things.

“That’s what happens in real life. You need that on EastEnders.”

Derek, from Bow, East London, left the soap when his character suffered a fatal heart attack in 2016.

He told how he was repeatedly approached by people using his on-screen name, saying: “Every day, I get stopped by Joe Public.

“They say, ‘Charlie’ – because they still use my character’s name – ‘what’s happened with EastEnders?’

“Coronation Street still has strong families but EastEnders seems to have lost that,” he added.

“I’ve nothing against youngsters. They’re the future, but it’s like the BBC is trying to turn EastEnders into Hollyoaks with so many youngsters…

“…everyone’s having affairs and beating people up.”

Derek was born Derek William Rapp on April 11, 1933 in Bow, London.

Before he entered the entertainment industry, Martin worked as a professional gambler, motor racer, and as a debt collector.

He also served in the Royal Air Force as part of his national service requirements.

Derek was joined by his sons David and Jonathan – as well as Carry on star Anita Harris – to see in his 90th birthday in style.

The actor looked thrilled in photos as he posed with a huge birthday cake covered in fruit.

Real-life son David’s battle with depression played a key part in Derek’s return to Albert Square in 2016.

The storyline followed Stacey Branning’s postpartrum psychosis and depression.

Speaking at the time, he said: “At work I had the Stacey storyline.

“Then, I got home and there was my son, who I’d been worried about during the day, suffering from severe depression.

“I had it fictionally and I had it practically.”

He called for more to be done to raise awareness of mental illness.

Derek explained: “You can’t see it. People are frightened of the unknown.

“Many years ago, they used to put you in a place, lock you up and chuck away the key. Thankfully that’s gone now. It needs to be brought out.

“There are a lot of well known people who have said they have depression and it’s good cos it’s bringing it to the forefront.

“They need more investigations into it by the NHS, by the government, but as we know budgets are tight and money has been cut.

“Luckily we’ve got people like MIND, who are on set at EastEnders who
advise people like Lacey, who plays Stacey how she is.

“That’s good and that helps.”