Pat Tate
Alias: N/A
Portrayed by: Craig Fairbrass
Based on: Patrick Tate
First appearance: Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)
Role in the Films
Pat Tate is one of the central figures in the Rise of the Footsoldier franchise, a formidable and volatile powerhouse with a temper to match. Loyal to his own and lethal to everyone else, he is portrayed as a dominant force within the Essex criminal underworld. His presence commands both respect and fear from those around him.
Craig Fairbrass first brought the character to life in Rise of the Footsoldier (2007), the original film in the series, and reprised the role in Rise of the Footsoldier 4: Marbella (2019). Fairbrass’s imposing physicality and intensity make him a natural fit for the role, and his portrayal of Tate is widely considered one of the defining performances across the franchise.
Real-Life Context
Pat Tate is based on the real Patrick Tate, a significant figure in Essex organised crime. His life came to a violent end in 1995, when he was murdered at Rettendon, Essex. The killings became one of the most notorious gangland murders in British criminal history. The case and the events surrounding it form the backbone of the Rise of the Footsoldier franchise.
The Rettendon murders remain a landmark moment in Essex crime history, and Pat Tate’s story, as both a real figure and a fictional portrayal, sits at the very heart of the series.