John Derek

John Derek (August 12, 1926 – May 22, 1998) 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. He was also known for marrying glamorous starlets and for launching the career of his last wife, Bo Derek.

Youth

Derek was born Derek Delevan Harris in Hollywood, California, the son of actor/director Lawson Harris and actress Dolores Johnson. His striking good looks were noticed, and he was being groomed for a movie career by both David O. Selznick and his agent Henry Willson (who gave him the temporary screen name of 'Dare Harris') when he was drafted in 1944 into the United States Army, and saw service in the Philippines during the last days of World War II.

Film career

After the war, Derek approached 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 1949 melodrama.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.

John Derrick (disambiguation)

John Derrick was Queen's coroner.

John Derrick may also refer to:

See also