Biography
Derek Thompson is a Northern Irish actor born on 4 April 1948 in Belfast. He is best known for playing Charlie Fairhead in the BBC medical drama Casualty from its first episode in 1986 until 2024, with a guest return in 2026. He is the longest-serving cast member of the series.
Before Casualty, Thompson appeared in films including Yanks (1979) and The Long Good Friday (1980), in which he played Jeff. He had earlier worked as a singer in the folk duo Elaine and Derek with his twin sister in the 1960s, and they appeared together in the film Gonks Go Beat (1965). His television credits also include The Gentle Touch (1980–1982) and Blue Lights (2024).
Thompson trained and worked in theatre, including productions at the National Theatre. He is married to actress Dee Sadler.
