Derek Mears Biography: Age, Wife, Movies & TV Shows, Net Worth, Height

Derek Mears, a towering American actor and stuntman, is renowned for his chilling portrayal of Jason Voorhees in the 2009 Friday the 13th reboot and his versatile work in horror and sci-fi genres.

With a career spanning acting, stunt work, and voice acting, he has become a staple in Hollywood’s genre scene, appearing in projects like Swamp Thing, Predators, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Profile

• Full Name: Derek Mears
• Stage Name: Derek Mears
• Born: April 29, 1972
• Age: 53 years old
• Birthplace: Bakersfield, California, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor, Stuntman, Comedian, Voice Actor
• Height: 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m)
• Parents: Unknown
• Siblings: One
• Spouse: Jennifer Flack (m. 2008–2012), Jenny Brezinski
• Children: None
• Relationship: Engaged
• Net Worth: $3.5 million to $5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Derek Mears was born on April 29, 1972, in Bakersfield, California, USA, to parents whose names are not publicly documented. Mears attended Highland High School in Bakersfield, graduating in 1990, where he was active in cultural events and developed a passion for performance.

While specific details about his college education are unavailable, he furthered his acting skills at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and studied martial arts, including Karate, Taekwondo, Krav Maga, Kickboxing, and Judo, enhancing his stunt work capabilities. His ethnicity is Caucasian, his zodiac sign is Taurus, and his religious beliefs are not publicly confirmed, though some sources suggest a Christian background.

Career

Derek Mears began his career in 1995 with minor roles, including a part in Third Watch (2001) as Teenage Bobby. His early work focused on stunt performance, leveraging his 6’5″ frame and martial arts training in films like Men in Black II (2002), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011, $1.045 billion box office).

He also performed stunts in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Blades of Glory (2007), Angel, and Bones. His acting breakthrough came in 2009 as Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th reboot ($91 million box office), where he researched child development to portray Jason’s psychological depth, earning an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Villain. Mears played a Predator in Predators (2010), Chameleon in The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007), and a zombie in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

His television roles include Moloch in Sleepy Hollow (2013–2017), Krampus in Grimm, and the title role in Swamp Thing (2019). Other credits include Community (2010) as a kickpuncher, Magic City (2012–2013), Revenge (2014), and MacGyver (2018).

He voiced Jason Voorhees in the video game Friday the 13th: The Game (2017) and appeared in Alita: Battle Angel (2019) and Spinning Gold (2023) as Gene Simmons. Mears joined the cast of Shelby Oaks (set for release October 3, 2025) in an undisclosed role. He is also a member of the improv comedy group The Resistance and is working on a solo music album, The Tribe, with Lakeshore Records.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @derekmears
• Twitter Handle: @derekmears

Personal Life

Derek Mears, 53, is engaged to photographer Jenny Brezinski, whom he began dating around 2016 and reportedly got engaged to in 2018. They made their first public appearance together at a Los Angeles exhibition in November 2016, and Mears supported her photography career by gifting her first camera.

He was previously married to actress and writer Jennifer Flack from 2008 to 2012; their marriage ended due to conflicting schedules and long periods apart. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing approximately 75–106 kg (165–233 lbs, varying by source), Mears has a muscular build, brown hair (affected by alopecia), and brown eyes.

Discography:

• The Tribe (solo album, Lakeshore Records, release date TBD)

Filmography:

• Men in Black II (2002) – Alien (Actor/Stunts)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Stunts
• Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) – Lead Zorgon
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) – Stunts
• The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007) – Chameleon
• Blades of Glory (2007) – Stunts
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) – Stunts
• Friday the 13th (2009) – Jason Voorhees ($91 million)
• Predators (2010) – Classic Predator
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) – Master-at-Arms/Zombie ($1.045 billion)
• Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) – Edward
• Hatchet III (2013) – Hawes
• Compound Fracture (2013) – Supporting Role
• Gangster Squad (2013) – Bridge Goon
• Alita: Battle Angel (2019) – Romo
• Spinning Gold (2023) – Gene Simmons
• Shelby Oaks (2025) – Undisclosed Role

Television:

• Third Watch (2001) – Teenage Bobby
• The Tick (2001) – Guest Role
• ER (2002) – Guest Role
• Alias (2003) – Guest Role
• Nash Bridges (2003) – Guest Role
• The Shield (2005) – Guest Role
• CSI: Miami (2006) – Guest Role
• Community (2010) – Kickpuncher
• HMS (2010) – Jonathan David
• Magic City (2012–2013) – Stevie Evans
• Sleepy Hollow (2013–2017) – Moloch
• Grimm (2014) – Krampus
• Revenge (2014) – Brooks
• Swamp Thing (2019) – Swamp Thing
• MacGyver (2018) – Guest Role

Video Games:

• Friday the 13th: The Game (2017) – Jason Voorhees (Voice)

Commercials:

• Direct Line (2021) – RoboCop

Net Worth

Derek Mears has an estimated net worth of $3.5 million to $5 million USD. His wealth is derived from his extensive career as an actor and stuntman in high-grossing films like Friday the 13th ($91 million), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ($1.045 billion), and Predators ($127 million).