John Derek was an American actor, director and photographer. He appeared in such films as Knock on Any Door, All the King's Men, and Rogues of Sherwood Forest, but was probably best known for marrying glamorous starlets and for launching the meteoric career of his last wife,...
August 12, 1926, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Died
May 22, 1998, Santa Maria, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Hollywood
Height
6 ft (1.85 m)
Profession
Photographer, Actor, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Film Director, Film Producer
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Bo Derek (m. 1976–1998)
Children
Sean Catherine Derek, Russell Derek
Parents
Lawson Harris, Dolores Johnson
Nicknames
Derek Delevan Harris , Dare Harris , Derek Harris
Movies
Tarzan, the Ape Man, Bolero, The Ten Commandments, Knock on Any Door, All the King's Men, Ghosts Can't Do It, Once Before I Die, Rogues of Sherwood Forest, The Adventures of Hajji Baba, Exodus, Nightmare in the Sun, Fury at Showdown, Run for Cover, Mask of the Avenger, I'll Be Seeing You, Ambush at ...
TV Shows
Frontier Circus
Star Sign
Leo
#
Fact
1
Daughter Sean Catherine Derek wrote a memoir in 1982 titled "Cast of Characters" about her troubled relationship with him and about her famous stepmothers, Linda Evans being the only stepmother she had an affinity for.
2
Left first wife Pati Behrs for second wife Ursula Andress, who spoke almost no English when they met and eventually left him for Jean-Paul Belmondo. He left third wife Linda Evans for fourth wife Bo Derek after directing her in Fantasies (1981) (shot in 1973) when she was just 16, but they remained together for the rest of his life.
3
In 1944 he was drafted into the United States Army and serviced in the Philippines during the last days of World War II.
4
Son, Russell Derek, was paralyzed from the chest down due to a motorcycle accident in 1969.
Photographed the last three of his four wives for Playboy magazine.
8
In voting for 1981's RAZZIE Awards for Worst Achievements in Film, Derek's direction of Tarzan the Ape Man (1981) (starring his wife Bo Derek) and Michael Cimino's direction of the legendary debacle Heaven's Gate (1980) ran neck-and-neck. A mere handful of late ballots threw the Worst Director nod to Cimino.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Janus
1994
TV Series
Trainer
Flair
1990
TV Mini-Series
Barman Pub No. 2
Once Before I Die
1966
Bailey
Nightmare in the Sun
1965
Hitchhiker
The 26th Cavalry
1965
Frontier Circus
1961-1962
TV Series
Ben Travis
Zane Grey Theater
1957-1961
TV Series
Chet Loring / Andy Todd
Exodus
1960
Taha
Prisoner of the Volga
1959
Alexej Orloff
Il corsaro della mezzaluna
1959
Nadir El Krim / Paul de Vellenera
High Hell
1958
Craig Rhodes
Omar Khayyam
1957
Young Prince Malik
The Flesh Is Weak
1957
Tony Giani
Fury at Showdown
1957
Brock Mitchell
Massacre at Sand Creek
1956
TV Movie
Lt. Norman Tucker
Playhouse 90
1956
TV Series
Lt. Norman Tucker
The Ford Television Theatre
1953-1956
TV Series
Jim Hawk / Allan Malone
The Ten Commandments
1956
Joshua
The Leather Saint
1956
Father Gil Allen
Run for Cover
1955
Davey Bishop
An Annapolis Story
1955
Anthony J. 'Tony' Scott
Prince of Players
1955
John Wilkes Booth
The Adventures of Hajji Baba
1954
Hajji Baba
The Outcast
1954
Jet Cosgrave
Lux Video Theatre
1954
TV Series
George Eastman
Sea of Lost Ships
1953
G.R. 'Grad' Matthews
Mission Over Korea
1953
Lt. Pete Barker
The Last Posse
1953
Jed Clayton
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap
1953
Kid
Prince of Pirates
1953
Prince Roland
Thunderbirds
1952
Lt. Gil Hackett
Castle in the Air
1952
John Derek (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet
1952
Steve McCleary
The Family Secret
1951
David Clark
Saturday's Hero
1951
Steve Novak
Mask of the Avenger
1951
Capt. Renato Dimorna
Rogues of Sherwood Forest
1950
Robin, Earl of Huntington
All the King's Men
1949
Tom Stark
Knock on Any Door
1949
Nick Romano
A Double Life
1947
Police Stenographer (uncredited)
I'll Be Seeing You
1944
Lt. Bruce (as Dare Harris)
Since You Went Away
1944
Minor Role (uncredited)
The Nest
1943
Short
Boy Friend (as Dare Harris)
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ghosts Can't Do It
1989
Bolero
1984
Tarzan the Ape Man
1981
Fantasies
1981
Love You!
1979
Childish Things
1969
A Boy... a Girl
1969
Once Before I Die
1966
Nightmare in the Sun
1965
The 26th Cavalry
1965
Cinematographer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ghosts Can't Do It
1989
photographed by
Bolero
1984
Tarzan the Ape Man
1981
Fantasies
1981
Love You!
1979
Childish Things
1969
A Boy... a Girl
1969
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ghosts Can't Do It
1989
by
Bolero
1984
Fantasies
1981
A Boy... a Girl
1969
writer
Camera Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ghosts Can't Do It
1989
camera operator
Editor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ghosts Can't Do It
1989
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Once Before I Die
1966
producer
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Playboy Video Magazine, Vol. 1
1983
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Barbara Walters Summer Special
1980
TV Series
Himself
Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Stars to Remember
1954
Short
Himself
Screen Snapshots: Hollywood's Mr. Movies
1952
Documentary short
Himself
Screen Snapshots: Meet Mr. Rhythm, Frankie Laine
1952
Documentary short
Himself
Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Awards
1951
Documentary short
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Biography
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
Intimate Portrait
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
The 71st Annual Academy Awards
1999
TV Special
Himself - Memorial Tribute
Frontier Justice
1958-1961
TV Series
Andy Todd
Six-Five Special
1957
TV Series
Star Spotlight subject
Screen Snapshots: Mr. Rhythm's Holiday
1956
Documentary short
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1991
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Director
Ghosts Can't Do It (1989)
1985
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Director
Bolero (1984)
1985
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Screenplay
Bolero (1984)
1984
Sour Apple
Golden Apple Awards
1960
Star on the Walk of Fame
Walk of Fame
Television
On 8 February 1960. At 6531 Hollywood Blvd.
1951
Golden Apple
Golden Apple Awards
Most Cooperative Actor
Together with William Holden
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1991
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Screenplay
Ghosts Can't Do It (1989)
1982
Razzie Award
Razzie Awards
Worst Director
Tarzan the Ape Man (1981)
1981
Stinker Award
The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards
Worst Sense of Direction (Stop them before they direct again!)