John Derek
Biography
Born in Hollywood to a director and an actress, John Derek was an American actor who became a filmmaker and photographer. After small parts in Selznick productions including I'll Be Seeing You (1944), he was renamed by Humphrey Bogart and cast as a killer in Knock on Any Door (1949), a performance that drew praise from critics. He then appeared in the Oscar-winning All the King's Men (1949) and went on to act in Scandal Sheet (1952), The Last Posse (1953), Run for Cover (1955), and The Ten Commandments (1956), in which he played Joshua. He also had a role in Exodus (1960). Disliking acting, Derek moved into directing, making Once Before I Die (1966), Childish Things (1969), Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), and Ghosts Can't Do It (1990), and he shot music videos for Shania Twain.
71years old at death
- Born Hollywood
- Died Santa Maria
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
- Derek Sullivan Harris (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 8
- Career span
- 16 years1944 to 1960
First and latest
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Big break
Derek was renamed John Derek by Humphrey Bogart, who then cast him as the killer Nick "Pretty Boy" Romano in the 1949 film Knock on Any Door.
A change of course
Derek disliked acting and said he only ever did one take per scene in the 13 films he made, because directors knew a second would be no different.
John Derek movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Nicholas Ray directed two of these films. Broderick Crawford appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Broderick Crawford's page
Will Wright's page
Raymond Greenleaf's page
All films by Nicholas Ray
Awards
Four awards and honors from 1985 to 1991.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1991 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director | Ghosts Can't Do It | Won |
| 1985 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director | Bolero | Won |
| 1985 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay | Bolero | Won |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.