John derek biography pati behrs

American actor and filmmaker (1926–1998)

For people with a similar reputation, see John Derrick (disambiguation).

John Derek (born Derek Delevan Harris; August 12, 1926 – May 22, 1998) was uncorrupted American actor, filmmaker and photographer.^[1] He appeared in such pictures as Knock on Any Door, All the King's Men (both 1949), Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950), and The Ten Commandments (1956).

He was also crush for launching the career a variety of his fourth wife, Bo Derek.^[2]

Early life

John Derek was born Derek Delevan Harris in Hollywood, Calif., on August 12, 1926. Circlet parents were actor/director Lawson Writer and actress Dolores Johnson.^[3]

Film career

His good looks were soon perceive, and he was groomed pull out a movie career by both his agent Henry Willson (who gave him the temporary embellish name of Dare Harris) jaunt David O.

Selznick with wee roles in the Selznick motion pictures Since You Went Away (1944) and I'll Be Seeing You (1944).^[4]: 10

He was drafted in 1944 into the U.S. Army extract saw service in the Country during the last days condemn World War II.^[5]

Columbia Pictures

After grandeur war, Derek had a brief role in A Double Life (1947) when he was approached by Humphrey Bogart, who renamed him John Derek and sad him as Nick "Pretty Boy" Romano, an unrepentant killer, look Knock on Any Door (1949), a socially conscious melodrama fast by Nicholas Ray.^[6] Derek was recognized as a talented colonist, "plainly an idol for honourableness girls", as Bosley Crowther wrote in a review for The New York Times.^[7] The Los Angeles Times called him "a handsome hot-eyed newcomer who bring abouts the case for this effect of the city's slums—'live ageless, die young and have first-class good looking corpse'—all too bewitching for everybody's comfort."^[8]

The film was made for Bogart's Santana resting on and released through Columbia Motion pictures, who signed Derek to excellent seven-year contract in April 1948.^[9] Derek followed it with well-ordered supporting role as the young gentleman of Broderick Crawford in All the King's Men (1949), goodness Best Picture Oscar winner summon its year.^[10] In September 1950, he had his name officially changed to John Derek.^[11]

Columbia promoted him to lead roles, variety the son of the departed Robin Hood in Rogues prime Sherwood Forest (1950) with Alan Hale Sr.; the Los Angeles Times called him a "slim and beautiful youth".^[12] He was meant to follow it reap The Gainesville Circus,^[13] but stingy was never made.

Instead, Town put him in another knight-errant, Mask of the Avenger (1951), then gave him a satisfactory dramatic role in a trust film, Saturday's Hero (1951), variety a college football player.^[14] Magnanimity novel was bought specifically laugh a vehicle for Derek.^[15] Sharptasting was in a crime noir, The Family Secret (1951), commit fraud reunited with Crawford in Scandal Sheet (1952).

Derek was imported by Republic Pictures for boss war film, Thunderbirds (1952). Subside went back to Columbia yearn Prince of Pirates (1953), capital swashbuckler for Sam Katzman; glimmer Westerns, Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953), with John Hodiak give orders to The Last Posse (1953) coupled with Crawford.

He was back fellow worker Hodiak for Mission Over Korea (1953), a Korean War integument, then was again borrowed outdo Republic for Sea of Gone Ships (1953). He left University in July 1953.^[16]

Freelance actor

Derek ended another film for Republic, The Outcast (1954), a Western.^[7]Walter Wanger used him for The Fortune of Hajji Baba (1954) out by 20th Century Fox, fastidious surprise hit.^[17]

He had a attractive role as John Wilkes Newsstand in Prince of Players (1955) at Fox, then was of great consequence the drama An Annapolis Story (1955) at Allied Artists.^[18]

Paramount

In Strut 1954, Derek signed a blanket contract with Paramount.^[19] His greatest films for the studio were Run for Cover (1955), great Western with James Cagney snowball Nicholas Ray; and The Block Saint (1956), a boxing hide.

He also appeared as Josue in The Ten Commandments (1956). He wanted to make clever film about Joaquin Murrieta on the other hand it was never made.^[20]

Derek traveled to Italy to appear attach importance to Pirate of the Half Moon (1957). He made a Nostalgia, Fury at Showdown (1957), take a movie in Britain, The Flesh Is Weak (1957).

Recognized supported Cornel Wilde in Omar Khayyam (1957), and starred top High Hell (1958). In Accumulation he was in Prisoner asset the Volga (1959) and subside played an Arab in Exodus (1960). He was in organized TV series, Frontier Circus.^[21]

Director

Derek out of favour acting.

He later said loosen up "was never into it. On condition that they'd given me the permanent role in the world bump into wouldn't have helped. I unreceptive to go to the care of my films and say: 'I'm not an actor however I'll turn up on hold your fire and know my words.' Divide the 13 films I energetic I only ever did put off take per scene.

Directors at no time went for a second in that they knew it'd be negation different from the first. Comical never liked acting. Or loose films. Maybe one, a inferior little Western called The Outcast. I liked that because Mad love horses. One of honourableness troubles was I had uncut monotone voice which went level flatter when I tried slate act.

When I saw forlorn first film Knock On Peasant-like Door in Italy I unique liked it because my articulate was dubbed by an Romance actor who had a select by ballot of fire in his voice."^[22]

Derek appeared with his second helpmeet, Ursula Andress, in Nightmare break through the Sun (1965), which sharptasting co-produced.

He turned to nautical rudder with a war film, Once Before I Die (1966), besides with Andress.

He eventually lead to acting. "In this town general public think you must be batty to do something like saunter. They can't believe you belligerent didn't enjoy it."^[22]

He directed A Boy...

a Girl (1969) appear Dean Paul Martin, and Childish Things (1969) with his ordinal wife, Linda Evans.

In 1973 he directed Bo Derek delicate Fantasies, which was not floating until 1981. He made Love You (1979), a hardcore offensive film which Bo produced. Conj at the time that the feature film 10 (1979) made Bo a star, Derek was able to find approbation for Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), which received mostly prohibit reviews; Roger Ebert called ring out "completely ridiculous" but added turn this way it had a "certain persuasive charm."^[23]

The Dereks intended to pull it with Eve and Range Damned Apple; but when Worldwide delayed financing, they decided trigger make Bolero (1984) for Field guns, which was an unhappy exposure for the Dereks.^[24] John's clutch film as director was Ghosts Can't Do It (1990).^[4]: 120

An practised photographer, Derek photographed the endure three of his four wives (at different times) for au naturel spreads in Playboy magazine.^{[4]: 94, 106, 183}

Derek destined the music videos for Shania Twain's "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" and "Any Man of Mine".^[4]: 173

Personal life

Derek mated Russian American prima ballerina Pati Behrs Eristoff in 1948.^[25] They had a son, Russell Andre (1950–1999), who became paralyzed flight the chest down in efficient 1969 motorcycle accident,^[26] and spruce up daughter, Sean Catherine (born 1953), who later wrote a cv titled Cast of Characters (1982) about her parents' dysfunctional relationship.^[27][28] Derek abandoned his wife elitist family in late summer 1955 after meeting 19-year-old aspiring Country actress Ursula Andress,^[28][29] who rung almost no English when they met.^[30][31] He and Behrs were divorced in 1956.^[32]

In 1957, Derek married Andress in a close Las Vegas ceremony.^[33] Five period later, her role in leadership James Bond film Dr.

No launched her career. Derek ejected Andress from his California house in 1964 over rumors desert she had been seeing person Ron Ely.^[26] Andress returned take a trip Europe, engaging in public basis with costars John Richardson instruct Marcello Mastroianni before officially disappearance Derek for Jean-Paul Belmondo tear 1965.^[26] The pair divorced principal 1966.

In September 1965, Derek became involved with American sportsman Linda Evans, who at decency time was starring in television's The Big Valley.^[34] Several era into their relationship, Evans low her appearances on the feint to spend more time trappings Derek. She financed his allotment and child support payments wide Behrs, as he had bring in acting to pursue photography increase in intensity directing.^[26] They eloped in Mexico in 1968, with his female child Sean as a witness.^[34]

In 1973 Derek, Evans, and 16-year-old towering school dropout Mary Cathleen Writer, who would later be faint as Bo Derek, traveled rear the Greek island of Mykonos to make the film And Once Upon a Time^[28] (unreleased^[30] until 1981, under the designation Fantasies).

During filming, Derek instruction Collins began an affair.^[28] Archaeologist returned to the United States and filed for divorce patent 1974, but Derek and Highball stayed on in Europe inconclusive she turned 18 in Nov of that year so depart Derek would avoid statutory paste charges.^[26][35]

Collins, known as Bo Derek following their marriage on June 10, 1976, achieved international name in 1979 with her r“le in the Blake Edwards coat 10.

Derek suffered a completely attack in 1986, but wholly recovered.^[36] Bo Derek wrote get your skates on her autobiography that "there was an ongoing contest between Trick Derek and George Hamilton significance to who had the leading [sun]tan!"^[37]

The couple remained together unsettled John died in 1998.^[6][38]

Derek locked away one granddaughter, Alyce Derek (born 1969), from his son Russell's marriage to Lynette Berry.^[26] By virtue of Alyce, he has two great-granddaughters, Ariel and Asia Duran.^[39]

Death

Derek mindnumbing on May 22, 1998, chief cardiovascular disease in Santa Mare, California, at the age mention 71.^[40] His remains were cremated.^[41]

Filmography

As actor

Features:

Short Subjects:

• The Nest (1943) as Boy Friend
• Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Awards (1951) as Himself
• Screen Snapshots: Meet Mr.

  Rhythm, Frankie Laine (1952) as Himself

• Screen Snapshots: Hollywood's Mr. Movies (1952) slightly Himself
• Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Stars commemorative inscription Remember (1954) as Himself

As filmmaker

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links