John Derek

About John Derek

Who is it?: Actor, Director, Cinematographer
Birth Day: August 12, 1926
Birth Place:  Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Cause of death: Cardiovascular disease
Occupation: Actor, director, photographer
Years active: 1943–1990
Spouse(s): Pati Behrs (1948–1955; divorced) Ursula Andress (1957–1966; divorced) Linda Evans (1968–1974; divorced) Bo Derek (1976–1998; his death)
Children: 2 with Behrs
Parent(s): Lawson Harris (father)

John Derek

John Derek was born on August 12, 1926 in  Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, is Actor, Director, Cinematographer. John Derek was born on August 12, 1926 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA as Derek Delevan Harris. He was an actor and director, known for The Ten Commandments (1956), Ghosts Can't Do It (1989) and Bolero (1984). He was married to Bo Derek, Linda Evans, Ursula Andress and Pati Behrs. He died on May 22, 1998 in Santa Maria, California.
John Derek is a member of Actor

Does John Derek Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, John Derek has been died on May 22, 1998(1998-05-22) (aged 71)\nSanta Maria, California, US.

🎂 John Derek - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

When John Derek die, John Derek was 71 years old.

Popular As John Derek
Occupation Actor
Age 71 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born August 12, 1926 ( Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States)
Birthday August 12
Town/City  Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Nationality United States

🌙 Zodiac

John Derek’s zodiac sign is Virgo. According to astrologers, Virgos are always paying attention to the smallest details and their deep sense of humanity makes them one of the most careful signs of the zodiac. Their methodical approach to life ensures that nothing is left to chance, and although they are often tender, their heart might be closed for the outer world. This is a sign often misunderstood, not because they lack the ability to express, but because they won’t accept their feelings as valid, true, or even relevant when opposed to reason. The symbolism behind the name speaks well of their nature, born with a feeling they are experiencing everything for the first time.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

John Derek was born in the Year of the Tiger. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger are authoritative, self-possessed, have strong leadership qualities, are charming, ambitious, courageous, warm-hearted, highly seductive, moody, intense, and they’re ready to pounce at any time. Compatible with Horse or Dog.

Some John Derek images

Biography/Timeline

1944

He was drafted in 1944 into the United States Army, and saw Service in the Philippines during the last days of World War II.

1947

After the war, Derek had a small role in A Double Life (1947) when he was approached by Humphrey Bogart, who renamed him John Derek and cast him as Nick (Pretty Boy) Romano, an unregenerate killer, in Knock on Any Door (1949), a socially conscious melodrama directed by Nicholas Ray. Derek was recognized as a talented newcomer, "plainly an idol for the girls", as Bosley Crowther put it in a review for The New York Times. The Los Angeles Times called him "a handsome hot-eyed newcomer who makes the case for this product of the city's slums - 'live fast, die young and have a good looking corpse' - all too fascinating for everybody's comfort."

1948

Derek married Turkish-born prima ballerina Pati Behrs Eristoff in 1948.

1949

Derek followed that picture with a supporting role as the son of Broderick Crawford in All the King's Men (1949), the Best Picture Oscar winner for its year, starring Broderick Crawford. In September 1950 the actor had his name formally changed to "John Derek".

1950

They had a son, Russell Andre (1950–1999), who was paralyzed in a 1969 motorcycle accident, and a daughter, Sean Catherine (born 1953), who later wrote a memoir titled Cast of Characters, published in 1982, about their dysfunctional relationship. Derek walked out on his wife and family in August 1955 after meeting 19-year-old aspiring Swiss Actress Ursula Andress, who spoke almost no English when they met. He and Behrs were divorced in 1956.

1951

Instead Columbia put him in another swashbuckler, Mask of the Avenger (1951), then they gave him a good dramatic role in a prestige film, Saturday's Hero (1951), as a college football player. The novel had been bought specifically as a vehicle for Derek. He was in a crime noir, The Family Secret (1951), then reunited with Crawford in Scandal Sheet (1952).

1952

Derek was borrowed by Republic Pictures for a war film, Thunderbirds (1952). He went back to Columbia for Prince of Pirates (1953), a swashbuckler for Sam Katzman; two Westerns, Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953), with John Hodiak and The Last Posse (1953) with Crawford. He was back with Hodiak for Mission Over Korea (1953), a Korean War film, then was borrowed by Republic Pictures for Sea of Lost Ships (1953). In July 1953 Derek left Columbia.

1954

In March 1954 Derek signed a long term contract with Paramount.

1955

Derek made several films for Paramount: Run for Cover (1955), a Western with James Cagney and Nicholas Ray and The Leather Saint (1956), a boxing film. He also appeared as Joshua in The Ten Commandments (1956). He wanted to make a film about Joaquin Murrieta but it was never made.

1957

In 1957, after finalizing his divorce from Behrs, he married Andress in a quickie Las Vegas ceremony, but she left him in 1965 for French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo.

1965

Derek appeared alongside his second wife Ursula Andress in Nightmare in the Sun (1965), which Derek co-produced. He turned to directing with a war film, Once Before I Die (1965), also with Andress.

1968

Derek subsequently became involved with American Actress Linda Evans, at the time starring in television's The Big Valley, who reduced her appearances on the show to spend more time with him, and financed his alimony and child support payments to Behrs, as he had quit acting by then to pursue photography and directing. They married in Mexico in 1968, with Sean as a witness.

1969

He directed A Boy... a Girl (1969) with Dean Paul Martin, and Childish Things (1969) with his third wife, Linda Evans.

1973

Derek, Evans and 16-year-old high school dropout Mary Cathleen Collins traveled to the Greek island of Mykonos in 1973 to make the film And Once Upon a Time (unreleased until 1981, under the title Fantasies). During filming, Derek and Collins began an affair. Evans returned to the United States and filed for divorce in 1974, but Derek and Collins stayed in Europe until she turned 18 in November of that year, in order that he would avoid statutory rape charges.

1976

Collins became known to the public as Bo Derek following their marriage on June 10, 1976 in Las Vegas, and achieved international fame in 1979 with her role in the Blake Edwards film 10. The couple remained together until John died in 1998.

1984

They intended to follow it with Eve and That Damned Apple but when Universal delayed financing they decided to make Bolero (1984) for Cannon, which was an unhappy experience for the Dereks. His last film as Director was Ghosts Can't Do It (1990).

1998

John Derek died on May 22, 1998, from cardiovascular disease in Santa Maria, California at the age of 71. His remains were cremated.

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