Derek Thompson

Derek Thompson (born 4 April 1948) is a British actor from Belfast, Northern Ireland, known for playing Charlie Fairhead in the long-running BBC television medical drama series Casualty, playing the role since the series' inception in 1986, and his performance as Jeff in the gangster film The Long Good Friday. Early life Thompson was born in Belfast and has a twin sister, Elaine Johns (née Thompson). During their teenage years, they combined to form the singing duo Elaine and Derek. They recorded four albums and 15 EPs together, singing in harmonies, and released one eponymously titled album on the Parlophone label in 1961. They then formed the folk trio Odin's People with Larry Johns, and recorded two singles in 1967. Derek appeared in the feature film Gonks Go Beat (1965). Career In the mid-1960s, Thompson worked as Stage Manager in the Nonentities Theatre in Kidderminster. and in rep. From 1976 he appeared in many early productions at the National Theatre, London's new South Bank home.