John Derek Biography: Wife, Movies, Net Worth, TV Shows, Age, Wikipedia, Parents, Height

Derek Delevan Harris, famously known as John Derek, was an American actor, director, and photographer for his roles in films like Knock on Any Door, All the King’s Men, Rogues of Sherwood Forest, and The Ten Commandments.

He also gained recognition for helping launch the career of his fourth wife, Bo Derek.

Profile

• Full Name: Derek Delevan Harris
• Stage Name: John Derek
• Born: August 12, 1926
• Date of death: May 22, 1998 (Aged: 71 years old)
• Birthplace: Hollywood, California
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor, director, and photographer
• Height: 1.85m
• Parent: Dolores Johnson, Lawson Harris
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Pati Behrs (m. 1948–1956), Ursula Andress (m. 1957–1966), Linda Evans (m. 1968–1974), and Bo Derek (m. 1976–1998)
• Children: Sean Catherine Derek, Russell Derek
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life And Education

Derek Delevan Harris was born in Hollywood, California, on August 12, 1926.

He was the son of actor and director Lawson Harris, known for making films in Australia during the 1920s, and his mother, Dolores Johnson. Information about any of his siblings is not readily available.

Details of his formal education are scarce, but he began acting as a child in the 1930s and 1940s. During World War II, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Philippines.

He was of white ethnicity and identified as a Christian.

Career

John Derek launched his Hollywood career as a model before catching the attention of a talent scout, which led to his breakout role in Knock on Any Door (1949) opposite Humphrey Bogart.

His strong screen presence quickly established him as a leading man, and he went on to star in notable films such as All the King’s Men (1949), Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950), and Cecil B. DeMille’s epic The Ten Commandments (1956).

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Derek demonstrated his range across various genres, appearing in titles like The Last Posse (1953), Prince of Pirates (1953), Run for Cover (1955), and Exodus (1960).

In the late 1960s, Derek shifted his focus from acting to directing, beginning with his debut film Nightmare in the Sun (1965). He went on to direct several more features, including A Change of Mind (1969), Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), Bolero (1984), and Ghosts Can’t Do It (1989).

Many of these projects starred his wife, Bo Derek, whose career he played a pivotal role in launching. Derek developed a distinctive visual style through his work behind the camera and demonstrated a flair for provocative storytelling.

Beyond film, Derek was also an accomplished photographer, further broadening his artistic footprint. His career was characterized by a continuous evolution—from actor to director to photographer—reflecting his passion for creative expression.

While some of his directorial work garnered mixed reviews, his willingness to experiment and defy convention left a lasting imprint on Hollywood’s landscape.

Social Media

John Derek does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

John Derek was married four times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Russian-American prima ballerina Pati Behrs Eristoff in 1948.

The couple had two children: a son, Russell Andre, and a daughter, Sean Catherine. However, in 1955, Derek left his family after meeting 19-year-old actress Ursula Andress.

He married Andress in 1957, but the union was divorced in 1966. Two years later, in 1968, Derek eloped with actress Linda Evans in Mexico, with his daughter Sean serving as a witness.

That marriage dissolved after Derek began dating 16-year-old Mary Cathleen Collins, later known as Bo Derek, during a film shoot in Greece in 1973.

On June 10, 1976, Derek married Bo Derek after waiting until she turned 18 so they could legally return to the United States and avoid statutory rape charges.

The couple remained together until his death from cardiovascular disease on May 22, 1998, at the age of 71.

Filmography

•   Saturday’s Hero (1951) – Steve Novak
•   The Family Secret (1951) – David Clark
•   Scandal Sheet (1952) – Steve McCleary
•   Thunderbirds (1952) – Lt. Gil Hackett
•   Prince of Pirates (1953) – Prince Roland
•   Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953) – Kid
•   The Last Posse (1953) – Jed Clayton
•   Mission Over Korea (1953) – Lt. Pete Barker
•   Sea of Lost Ships (1953) – G.R. ‘Grad’ Matthews
•   The Outcast (1954) – Jet Cosgrave
•   Prince of Players (1955) – John Wilkes Booth
•   Run for Cover (1955) – Davey Bishop
•   The Leather Saint (1956) – Father Gil Allen
•   The Ten Commandments (1956) – Joshua
•   Fury at Showdown (1957) – Brock Mitchell
•   The Flesh Is Weak (1957) – Tony Giani
•   Omar Khayyam (1957) – Young Prince Malik
•   High Hell (1958) – Craig Rhodes

Net Worth

At the time of his death in 1998, John Derek had an estimated net worth of approximately $5 million.

His wealth was primarily derived from his diverse career as an actor, director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and photographer.