Obituary of John Derek

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John Derek

John Derek (born August 12, 1926 in Los Angeles, California) was a film actor, film director, and screenwriter who was best known for appearing in such films as “Knock on Any Door,” “All the King's Men,” and the memorable “Rogues of Sherwood Forest.” John died on May 22, 1998 and his death was because of cardiovascular disease. He died at age 71.

Please help us remember the life of John Derek by contributing to his obituary, his family tree, funeral, burial, his birth, family, career and death in the sections below.

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John Derek Biography Wiki:

    • Net Worth: $5 million
    • Nationality: American
    • Favorite Food: Kraft Mac & Cheese
    • Favorite Color: White
    • Favorite Scent: Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet
    • Favorite Actor: Robert De Niro

    John's Family Tree

    • Birth Name: Derek Delevan Harris
    • Father: Lawson Harris (1897-1948)
    • Mother: Dolores Johnson (1903-1957)
    • Spouse/Partner:
      • Pati Behrs (married 1948-divorced 1956)
      • Ursula Andress (married 1957-divorced 1966)
      • Linda Evans (married 1968-divorced 1974)
      • Bo Derek (married 1976-1998, his death)
    • Son(s):
      • Russell Derek (1950-1999)
    • Daughter(s):
      • Sean Catherine Derek

Death Notice:

Category Tags:

Film ActorFilm Director Screenwriter American Born on August 12th Born in 1926 Born in California Died in 1998 Died at age 71 Died from Cardiovascular disease

John's Notable Roles:

  • Knock on Any Door
  • All the King's Men
  • and Rogues of Sherwood Forest

Quotable Quotes:

"[on the interview with Cecil B. DeMille that led to his being cast in DeMille's final film] He was disappointed in my stature. He wanted me for the part of Joshua, the stonecutter, in The Ten Commandments (1956). He had studied me for months and knew more about me than I knew about myself. I was so used to being rushed through interviews that I stumbled over my words for the first fifteen minutes to get out everything I wanted to say. An hour and a half later I was still in there with him. A burning desire to play Joshua and a new enthusiasm for acting actually filled me. Finally, I told him that by the time he was ready to shoot, I would build up my body by scaling it down from one hundred eighty-five pounds to the proportions he wanted by weight lifting and I would be the best Joshua he could find." (IMDB)

"John Derek got his start in the music business at the tender age of nineteen. He has since gone on to achieve success as a musician and composer. John Derek was a highly respected member of the music community and was widely known for his unique style of music. (V)"

"John Derek lived a full life, leaving behind a legacy of talent and passion in the entertainment industry. (V)"

"John Derek was a successful American actor, director, and photographer, known for his work in classic Hollywood films, however, his life was cut short due to an unforeseen circumstance. (V)"

Is Mr. John Derek still alive? According to our unconfirmed records, he has passed away.

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Celebrity Obit Rating: 4 Stars
Wiki Page Updated: 2025-07-06 00:43:11
Author: Stan
Confirmation: John Derek on Wikipedia


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