The English actor Derek Martin has been married twice. He was first married to Gloria J. Mitchell and later to Christine Ann Rigg, with whom he adopted two sons, David Martins and Jonathan Martins, while he was still married to his second wife.
Even though Derek managed to keep his personal life away from the spotlight, his professional life seems to be in front of us. He has been in the entertainment industry for several decades and is best known for his roles in films and television series such as “EastEnders” (2011), “The Sex Thief” (1973), “Eskimo Nell” (1975), “Spaghetti House” (1982), and “Boston Knockout” (1995).
Derek Martin Has Been Married Twice
Gloria J. Mitchell
Derek Martin’s first wife was Gloria J. Mitchell. It’s unclear how and when the pair first crossed paths since their relationship was never in the spotlight until they tied the knot in 1961. The wedding ceremony was held in London and witnessed by close friends and family members.
The pair would then remain married for some years before parting ways. Just like the start of their relationship, Derek and Gloria quietly dissolved their marriage, and what may have caused their split is not known. The number of years they spent as a couple is also not known.
Christine Ann Rigg
The second woman who became Derek’s wife was Christine Ann Rigg. Like his first marriage, the exact time the pair became an item is not known. They made it to the news in 1971 when they got married.
They spent some years of their lives as a couple before their unfortunate split Despite being divorced, the couple shared a great friendship that only ended when Christine sadly passed away.
Derek Martin’s Children Were Adopted at 4 Weeks
Derek did not birth any children in his two marriages. However, he adopted two children when he tied the knot with Christine. His children, David Martins and Jonathan Martins were only 4 weeks old at the time they were adopted. and largely lived away from the public’s eyes.
As such, information about their personal and professional endeavors has not been established. Nonetheless, with the uncanny resemblance they share, it’s easy to see that they are twins.
In 2018, Derek revealed that his youngest son, David, has been battling depression and traced it back to his childhood. He noted that he had been diagnosed with severe depression since the age of 4 and managed the condition with the help of medication.
Even though his son’s condition has been challenging, Derek inspired him to return for a role on “EastEnders” where his character also battled mental health issues. While speaking about his personal and professional life 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 Was Raised in Bow, East London, with Other Family Members
The English actor Derek Martin was born on April 11, 1933, and he’s 90 years old at the moment. From established records, he was raised in a tight-knit working-class family in the neighborhood of Bow in East London alongside his parents, Williams George Rapp (father) and Christina Jarvis (mother), and other family members whose information has been kept away from the public.
Even though he confirmed that his parents were living well and had good jobs, there are no hints about their professional lives.
Derek appears to be an only child, as he has never made any reference to having any siblings. In his debut book “Derek Martin: An East End Life, My Story”, the actor recalls growing up during the Blitz in an area that suffered the privations that World War II inflicted on Londoners.
He added that his mother was left with no option but to temporarily relocate to Hertfordshire for safety. After the war, the family returned to Bow, but their home had been affected by the bomb during the war.
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