Derek Thompson

Career overview

Derek Thompson is a Northern Irish actor born on April 4, 1948, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has had a long and distinguished career in television and film. Thompson is most notable for playing a lead role in the long-running BBC television medical drama series Casualty, a position he held for 37 years, from its first episode in 1986 to his final episode in 2024. During his time on Casualty, Thompson became the highest paid actor within the BBC, with a reported salary of £350,000-£399,000 per annum.

Prior to his role in Casualty, Thompson appeared in several notable films and television series. He starred in the film The Long Good Friday and had roles in TV series such as Harry's Game and The Gentle Touch. Thompson has also had stints at The N, although the nature of his work there is not specified.

Thompson has a total of 26 known credits to his name, although the specific details of his work are not provided. He has also appeared in other notable shows, including Minder and Rock Follies. Following his exit from Casualty, Thompson joined the cast of the Northern Irish police drama Blue Lights for its second season.