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John Derek
1926-1998
Updated 7/29/2007.
biography
Born Derek Harris in Hollywood in August 1926, actor/director John Derek was born into show business, and with his matinee-idol looks he was a natural for films. Derek got his start in bit parts as a teenager; his first role came in the wartime tear-jerker Since You Went Away (1944), the film in which Guy Madison made his debut. After military service and a few years of small roles, Derek signed with Columbia Pictures in 1948. He was immediately cast in two Columbia film noir thrillers: Knock on Any Door (1949; with Humphrey Bogart) and All the King's Men (1949; with Broderick Crawford, John Ireland, and Joanne Dru. Columbia later used Derek in swashbucklers such as Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) and Prince of Pirates (1953). Derek left Columbia in 1953 to freelance for other studios, including Republic, Allied Artists, and United Artists. By the late 1950s, with no studio to fall back on, Derek's acting career was stalling. In 1961, he took a role on the CBS television series Frontier Circus, but the network canceled the show in April 1962. By the mid 1960s, he stepped behind the camera as a director and cinematographer, leaving acting behind.
LEFT and CENTER: Beefcake poses from the 1950s. RIGHT: Derek with Katy Jurado
In addition to his films, John Derek was also known for marrying some of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood; his four wives were Pati Behrs, Ursula Andress, Linda Evans, and Bo Derek. In his later career as a director, Derek directed films starring threee of his wives, including Once Before I Die (1965) with Ursula Andress; Childish Things (1969) with Linda Evans; and Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) with Bo Derek.
the films of john derek
Knock on Any Door (1949)
From Columbia's film noir Knock on Any Door. LEFT: With Susan Perry. RIGHT: With Humphrey Bogart
Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950)
From Rogues of Sherwood Forest, released in color by Columbia. LEFT: Derek as Robin, Earl of Huntington. RIGHT: With Diana Lynn as Lady Marianne
Mask of the Avenger (1951)
From the Columbia swashbuckler Mask of the Avenger. The right photo includes Jody Lawrance
Scandal Sheet (1952)
From the Columbia film noir thriller Scandal Sheet
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953)
With María Elena Marqués in Columbia's Ambush at Tomahawk Gap, the first of several westerns for John Derek
Prince of Pirates (1953)
With Barbara Rush in the Columbia swashbuckler Prince of Pirates
The Outcast (1954)
From the Republic western The Outcast with Catherine McLeod
Run For Cover (1955)
With James Cagney and Viveca Lindfors in Nicholas Ray's Run For Cover, a western released by Paramount
The Leather Saint (1956)
LEFT and CENTER A: Derek portrays Father Gil Allen, who boxes in order to raise money for a boys club, in Paramount's The Leather Saint. CENTER B: With Jody Lawrance and Cesar Romero. RIGHT: With Paul Douglas and Richard Shannon
The Ten Commandments (1956)
With Charlton Heston in Cecil B. DeMille's final film The Ten Commandments, released by Paramount (thanks to Tom)
Fury at Showdown (1957)
With Nick Adams in the western Fury at Showdown
Omar Khayyam (1957)
With Debra Paget in Paramount's costume adventure Omar Khayyam
High Hell (1958)
Derek and Elaine Stewart portray an adulterous couple in the Paramount adventure High Hell
Exodus (1960)
As Taha in Otto Preminger's historical drama Exodus
later years
Following the release of Once Before I Die (1965), a film that Derek produced, directed, and starred alongside his second wife, actress Ursula Andress, John Derek abandoned his acting career. He chose instead to serve as director, producer, writer, and cinematographer for a number of film projects. In the late 1960s he directed A Boy... a Girl (1969) and Childish Things (1969), the latter with his then-wife Linda Evans. His best-known effort is the 1981 release Tarzan, the Ape Man with Miles O'Keeffe and Bo Derek. With his health deteriorating, Derek stepped out of the business following the release of Ghosts Can't Do it (1990; with Bo Derek and Julie Newmar). After suffering with a heart ailment, he passed away in May 1998 at the age of 71. He was survived by his wife, Bo Derek, and a son and daughter.
I'll Be Seeing You [DVD](1945) DVD
Serving a jail sentence for killing her boss in self-defense, a woman (Ginger Rogers) is allowed to visit her family over the holidays. On the train ride home, she meets and falls for a recently discharged GI (Joseph Cotten) who is hiding a secret in his own past. Romantic and emotional drama also stars Shirley Temple, Spring Byington, Chill Wills. AKA: "With All My Heart." 85 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish.
A Double Life [DVD](1947) DVD
Classic psychological drama about a suave but emotionally unstable actor who begins living the role of the murderous Othello on and off the stage. Star Ronald Colman won an Oscar for his performance; with Signe Hasso, Shelley Winters, Edmond O'Brien. 104 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo.
All The King's Men [DVD](1949) DVD
Three Oscars (Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress) went to this drama of a backwoods Southern lawyer who deals his way into the governor's mansion, but cannot control his lust for power. Broderick Crawford stars as the Huey Long-inspired kingpin. Mercedes McCambridge, John Ireland and Joanne Dru; based on the novel by Robert Penn Warren. 109 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby mono, French, Portuguese, Spanish; Subtitled: English, Chinese, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai; production notes; biographies; theatrical trailers; scene access.
The Ten Commandments (50th Anniversary Collection) [DVD](1956) DVD
Grand-scale epic from Cecil B. DeMille (his final film) stars Charlton Heston as Moses, chosen by God to lead his fellow Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The flight from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and Moses' receiving of the Commandments are highlights. Co-stars Edward G. Robinson, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter, Yvonne De Carlo, and a cast of thousands. 3 2/3 hrs. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital stereo Surround, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; documentaries; newsreel footage; theatrical trailers. Also includes the bonus feature "The Ten Commandments" (1923). Three-disc set.
Exodus [DVD](1960) DVD
Director Otto Preminger's sprawling saga about the 1947 Palestinian war for Israel's independence features an all-star cast that includes Paul Newman as a fiery resistance leader, Eva Marie Saint as an army nurse, Ralph Richardson and Peter Lawford as British officers and Sal Mineo as a radical freedom fighter. With John Derek, Lee J. Cobb; scripted by Dalton Trumbo from Leon Uris' novel. 208 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Surround; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; theatrical trailer.
Tarzan, The Ape Man [DVD](1981) DVD
Bo Derek is the swinging-est Jane yet in this sexy version of the legend. Dry, wet or undressed, Bo will steal your heart and bulge your eyes. No wonder jungle king Miles O'Keeffe screams, "ah uhh-uhh ah-uh!" Richard Harris co-stars. 115 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; theatrical trailer.
Fantasies [VHS](1981) VHS
Before "Bolero," "10" and even "Orca, The Killer Whale," screen sex symbol Bo Derek made her film debut in this sensual drama about a beautiful young woman's odyssey of erotic awakening in the exotic Greek islands. Peter Hooten co-stars; directed by Bo's future husband John Derek and originally filmed in 1974. AKA: "Once Upon a Love." 81 min.
Bolero [DVD](1984) DVD
Bo is hot...Bo is nasty...Bo Derek dares and bares it all in "Bolero." She's a free-spirited girl in the '20s who wants to scale the physical heights of ecstasy. Featuring George Kennedy and Andrea Occhipinti and directed by John Derek. 105 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo Surround; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.
Bolero [VHS](1984) VHS
Bo is hot...Bo is nasty...Bo Derek dares and bares it all in "Bolero." She's a free-spirited girl in the '20s who wants to scale the physical heights of ecstasy. Featuring George Kennedy and Andrea Occhipinti and directed by John Derek, this is the unrated, uncut version. 106 min.
Ghosts Can't Do It [VHS](1990) VHS
Yes they can, particularly when it's the ghost of virile "older man" Anthony Quinn, who has left this earth...and left beautiful wife Bo Derek lusting for his love. Will "Ms. 10" find another body for Tony to inhabit? Will Bo take showers and jacuzzis and wear lots of hats? Does the cast include Don Murray, Julie Newmar and Donald Trump as himself? The answers to these and other questions: YES!!! 95 min. n.
filmography
Once Before I Die (1965) with Ursula Andress, Ron Ely, Richard Jaeckel, and Rod Lauren
Nightmare in the Sun (1965) with Ursula Andress, Richard Jaeckel, Chick Chandler, Keenan Wynn, and Aldo Ray
Exodus (1960) with Paul Newman, Eva Marie Saint, Sal Mineo, Ralph Richardson, Peter Lawford, and Lee J. Cobb
Prisoner of the Volga (1958) with Dawn Addams, Elsa Martinelli, Gert Fröbe, and Rik Battaglia
High Hell (1958) with Elaine Stewart
Pirate of the Half Moon (1957) with Gianna Maria Canale
The Flesh Is Weak (1957) with Joe Robinson
Omar Khayyam (1957) with Cornel Wilde, Debra Paget, Michael Rennie, Raymond Massey, and Sebastian Cabot
Fury at Showdown (1957) with Nick Adams, John Smith, and Carolyn Craig
Massacre at Sand Creek (1956) with William Schallert
The Ten Commandments (1956) with Charlton Heston, Yvonne De Carlo, Debra Paget, Vincent Price, and Anne Baxter
The Leather Saint (1956) with Paul Douglas and Cesar Romero
Run for Cover (1955) with James Cagney, Viveca Lindfors, Ernest Borgnine, and Grant Withers
An Annapolis Story (1955) with Kevin McCarthy, Diana Lynn, Alvy Moore, and L.Q. Jones
Prince of Players (1955) with Richard Burton and Raymond Massey
The Adventures of Hajji Baba (1954) with Elaine Stewart, Amanda Blake, and Peter Mamakos
The Outcast (1954) with Joan Evans, Jim Davis, and Nicolas Coster
Sea of Lost Ships (1954) with Richard Jaeckel, Wanda Hendrix, Steve Brodie, and Walter Brennan
Mission Over Korea (1953) with John Hodiak, Rex Reason, Harvey Lembeck, and Maureen O'Sullivan
The Last Posse (1953) with Broderick Crawford and Wanda Hendrix
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953) with John Hodiak and David Brian
Prince of Pirates (1953) with Barbara Rush
Thunderbirds (1952) with John Drew Barrymore, Ward Bond, and Mona Freeman
Scandal Sheet (1952) with Broderick Crawford, Rosemary DeCamp, and Harry Morgan
The Family Secret (1951) with Lee J. Cobb, Peggy Converse, and Jody Lawrance
Saturday's Hero (1951) with Donna Reed, Aldo Ray, and Sidney Blackmer
Mask of the Avenger (1951) with Anthony Quinn and Jody Lawrance
Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) with Diana Lynn, Alan Hale, and George Macready
All the King's Men (1949) with Broderick Crawford, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, and Mercedes McCambridge
Knock on Any Door (1949) with Humphrey Bogart and George Macready
A Double Life (1947) with Ronald Colman, Shelley Winters, and Edmund O'Brien
I'll Be Seeing You (1944) with Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten, Shirley Temple, and Spring Byington
TELEVISION SERIES
Frontier Circus, 1961-1962 CBS TV series. Derek portrayed Ben Travis
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This page premiered August 26, 2003.
