Inside Christopher Fairbank’s nearly 50-year career: How new EastEnders star went from the halls of RADA to Hollywood

Christopher Fairbank has been announced as the most recent edition of the EastEnders form.

The badass actor will take to the stage alongside Elizabeth Counsell as George Knight's adoptive parents (Colin Salmon).

Veteran actors Eddie and Gloria try to reconnect with their son, but the couple is not as innocent as they seem.

With secrets from Colin's past emerging along with their arrival, the duo are about to bring a lot of drama to the square.

Both Elizabeth and Christopher have many impressive credits under their belts, but who is Christopher Fairbanks?

MailOnline takes a look at the actor's rise from the halls of acting institute RADA to his appearance on the big screen.

MailOnline takes a look at the actor's rise, from the halls of RADA to his appearance on the big screen (pictured in 2018)

Who is Christopher Fairbank?

Christopher Fairbank is an accomplished TV and film actor and is best known for his performance in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet as Liverpool migrant worker Albert.

He was born on October 4, 1953 in Essex, England, and subsequently studied in Canterbury.

At the age of 17, he moved to Liverpool, where he stayed briefly before deciding to pursue an acting career.

Christopher studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and graduated with a degree in 1974.

His stage debut came shortly afterwards, appearing that same year as Prince Henry in The Wisest Fool at the Civic Theatre, Darlington.

But the actor wouldn't have his breakthrough role in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet until almost a decade later, in 1983.

Before that he amassed a range of credits on various TV shows including BBC drama, Z Cars from (1962-1978), ITV's Noah's Castle and feature film called Agatha in 1979.

The star is best known for his breakthrough role as Albert in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (pictured clockwise from left to right: Tim Healy, Kevin Whately, Timothy Spall, Jimmy Nail and Christopher)

The actor, 70, appeared in a string of shows between graduating from RADA and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, including Noah's Castle, Z Cars and a feature film called Agatha

What TV shows has Christopher Fairbank been in?

Although the star will bring drama to the square, EastEnders is not the absolute pinnacle of his career.

The acting juggernaut has amassed quite a few credits in his nearly 50-year career.

He appeared in not one but two Hollywood hits: The Little Mermaid and Guardians of The Galaxy.

The EastEnders actor is virtually unrecognizable in his recurring role as The Broker in the Marvel films.

Disney's live-action film stars Christopher Fairbank in a slightly more wholesome role as Hawkins, one of Prince Eric's shipmates.

But the list of iconic films the actor has starred in doesn't start and end with those two films.

Another memorable role the actor played was Nic in Tim Burton's Batman in 1989.

The robber – Nic – desperately begs Batman for his life as the anti-hero dangles him from the side of the building in an attempt to get some information.

Among other star-studded films featuring Fairbank is Alien 3, which also stars Sigourney Weaver, Charles S. Dutton, Charles Dance and Lance Henriksen.

However, Christopher not only improved his acting skills, he also started showing off his vocal skills in the early 2000s.

Diversifying his portfolio, the Batman actor has voiced a host of video games, including Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Age of Conan and Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters.

The actor has appeared in Hollywood films including The Little Mermaid and Guardians Of The Galaxy (pictured at the premiere of The Little Mermaid in May)