Martin Kemp is a familiar face to British television and film audiences, but his career goes far beyond one famous role. When people search for Martin Kemp movies and TV shows, they are often looking for his best-known films, television appearances, characters, and more recent projects. From playing Reggie Kray in The Krays to becoming one of the most recognisable villains in EastEnders, Kemp has built a varied career across acting, directing, producing, television presenting, and music.
Born in Islington, London, in 1961, Martin Kemp first became widely known as the bass player of Spandau Ballet before moving successfully into acting. His screen career includes crime dramas, television series, comedy, documentaries, and feature films. IMDb currently lists dozens of acting credits for Kemp, along with work as a director and producer.
This guide looks at the most notable Martin Kemp movies and TV shows, his best-known roles, and some of the projects that have shaped his career.
Who Is Martin Kemp?
Martin Kemp is an English actor, musician, director, and television personality. He was born on 10 October 1961 in Islington, London. Before becoming established as an actor, he was a member of the successful 1980s band Spandau Ballet, where he played bass guitar.
His brother, Gary Kemp, was also a member of Spandau Ballet and later appeared alongside Martin in The Krays. Martin’s move from music into acting gave him a second major career and introduced him to a completely different audience.
His television career became particularly successful after joining EastEnders, where he played Steve Owen. IMDb lists Kemp as appearing as Steve Owen from 1998 to 2011, with 342 episodes credited to the role.
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Martin Kemp Movies
Martin Kemp has appeared in a range of films, including crime dramas, thrillers, independent productions, and comedy projects.
The Krays
One of the most important films in Martin Kemp’s acting career is The Krays, released in 1990.
The film tells the story of notorious London twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray. Martin Kemp played Reggie Kray, while his brother Gary Kemp played Ronnie. The movie became one of the defining screen projects associated with both brothers.
For viewers researching Martin Kemp movies, The Krays is an essential starting point because it represents one of his most recognised film performances. IMDb lists the film among Kemp’s best-known credits.
The Loss Adjuster
Kemp appeared in The Loss Adjuster, a 2020 British comedy-drama featuring an ensemble cast. He played Lee Leicester. The film is different in tone from some of Kemp’s earlier crime-focused work and demonstrates his willingness to take on lighter and contemporary roles.
Age of Kill
In Age of Kill, Martin Kemp played Sam Blake. The 2015 action thriller is another example of his work in crime and action-oriented productions. The role fits naturally alongside several other projects in which Kemp has played characters connected to crime, investigation, or danger.
Assassin
Kemp also appeared in Assassin, a 2015 crime-action project in which he played Lee Alberts. The movie brought him into another contemporary crime story and added to his collection of action-related screen roles.
A Gangster’s Kiss
A Gangster’s Kiss is another recent addition to Martin Kemp’s film work. IMDb lists the 2024 film with Kemp playing Don.
The project is particularly interesting for viewers who associate Kemp with his earlier crime roles because it returns him to a genre that has appeared several times throughout his acting career.
Doctor Plague
Doctor Plague is listed among Kemp’s 2026 acting credits. He plays John Verney in the production.
The project is another recent example of Kemp continuing to work on screen decades after his first major acting roles.
Martin Kemp TV Shows
Television has arguably been one of the biggest parts of Martin Kemp’s acting career. His television work includes long-running dramas, crime programmes, comedies, guest appearances, and television specials.
EastEnders
For many viewers, EastEnders remains the most recognisable answer to the question of which Martin Kemp TV shows are most important.
Kemp played Steve Owen, a businessman and nightclub owner who became a major character in the BBC soap. His time on the programme helped establish him as a major television personality.
IMDb lists his Steve Owen credit across 342 episodes between 1998 and 2011.
The role is particularly significant because it introduced Kemp to a huge television audience and became closely connected with his public identity as an actor.
McDonald & Dodds
Kemp appeared in the detective series McDonald & Dodds as Mick Elkins. IMDb lists his appearance in 2021. The series follows detectives solving cases in and around Bath. Kemp’s appearance allowed him to work within the British television crime genre once again.
Father Brown
Another notable television credit is Father Brown. Kemp appeared as Dennis Nelson in the series in 2017.
The programme is known for its mystery-based storytelling, making Kemp’s appearance another example of his involvement in British crime and detective television.
Birds of a Feather
Kemp also appeared in Birds of a Feather, playing Vince. IMDb lists two episodes from 2016.
The appearance shows another side of his television career, as the programme is a comedy rather than the crime dramas for which he is often remembered.
Murder, They Hope
In the comedy-mystery series Murder, They Hope, Kemp appeared as John. IMDb lists the appearance in 2023.
This is another example of Kemp moving between genres rather than remaining associated with only serious drama or crime roles.
The Horne Section TV Show
Kemp also appeared as himself in The Horne Section TV Show in 2022. This type of appearance highlights his broader television career beyond conventional acting roles.
Martin Kemp’s Television and Documentary Work
Martin Kemp’s television career is not limited to scripted drama and comedy. He has also appeared extensively as a presenter, guest, contestant, and television personality.
IMDb’s credits include appearances on programmes such as Celebrity Gogglebox, Loose Women, The Great Pottery Throw Down, Interior Design Masters, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, and Saturday Kitchen.
His documentary work has also included crime-related programming. IMDb’s other-works information notes his involvement with Crime Museum UK with Martin Kemp, a Discovery Channel documentary series exploring real crime cases and the development of forensic science.
Martin Kemp as a Director
Acting is only one part of Kemp’s career. He has also worked behind the camera.
His directing credits include Karma Magnet in 2008, Stalker in 2010, and Top Dog in 2014. IMDb lists him as director on these productions.
Stalker is particularly notable because Kemp was involved both as a director and actor. His work behind the camera demonstrates how his career expanded beyond performing.
Martin Kemp as a Producer
Kemp has also received producer credits. IMDb lists him as executive producer on productions including Dead Cert, Just for the Record, and Strippers vs Werewolves.
This production work adds another dimension to his career and shows that his involvement in entertainment has not been limited to acting.
Martin Kemp Movies and TV Shows at a Glance
| Year | Title | Type | Martin Kemp’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Krays | Movie | Reggie Kray |
| 1998–2011 | EastEnders | TV Series | Steve Owen |
| 2010 | Stalker | Movie | Acting/Director |
| 2012 | Strippers vs Werewolves | Movie | Executive Producer |
| 2015 | Age of Kill | Movie | Sam Blake |
| 2015 | Assassin | Movie | Lee Alberts |
| 2016 | Birds of a Feather | TV Series | Vince |
| 2017 | Father Brown | TV Series | Dennis Nelson |
| 2020 | The Loss Adjuster | Movie | Lee Leicester |
| 2021 | McDonald & Dodds | TV Series | Mick Elkins |
| 2022 | The Horne Section TV Show | TV Series | Himself |
| 2023 | Murder, They Hope | TV Series | John |
| 2024 | A Gangster’s Kiss | Movie | Don |
| 2026 | Doctor Plague | Movie | John Verney |
Credit information is based on IMDb’s current filmography.
What Is Martin Kemp Best Known For?
Martin Kemp is best known for two major areas of entertainment: his music career with Spandau Ballet and his acting career.
Among his acting credits, EastEnders and The Krays stand out as particularly recognisable projects. EastEnders gave him a long-running television role as Steve Owen, while The Krays gave him a major film role as Reggie Kray.
His later work demonstrates that his career continued to develop rather than ending with those early successes. He has appeared in crime dramas, comedies, television specials, documentaries, and reality programmes.
Why Are Martin Kemp’s Movies and TV Shows Still Popular?
One reason viewers continue searching for Martin Kemp movies and TV shows is the variety of his career.
Someone who knows him from EastEnders may not realise that he also played Reggie Kray. A fan of The Krays may know little about his later television appearances. Others may recognise him from Celebrity Gogglebox or another television programme without immediately connecting him to his earlier acting work.
His career crosses music, film, scripted television, documentaries, reality television, and production. That variety makes his filmography useful for both long-time fans and people discovering his work for the first time.
Concluion
The story of Martin Kemp movies and TV shows is really the story of a performer who successfully moved between several areas of entertainment.
From The Krays and EastEnders to Father Brown, McDonald & Dodds, A Gangster’s Kiss, and Doctor Plague, his screen career covers several decades and a wide range of genres. He has also worked as a director and producer, while continuing to appear on television as a guest, presenter, contestant, and personality.
