John Derek (August 12, 1926 – May 22, 1998) was an American actor, director and photographer most famous for the women he married.

Early life

Derek was born Derek Delevan Harris in Hollywood, California.

Career

His matinee-idol good looks quickly got him supporting roles, most notably as Broderick Crawford's son in All the King's Men (1949), but he also enjoyed leads such as "Nick Romano" in Knock on Any Door (1949) opposite Humphrey Bogart (who told him, "You look great, but kid, that's not enough"), "Brock Mitchell" in Fury at Showdown, and as Robin Hood in Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950) with Alan Hale.

Perhaps Derek's most memorable film appearance was as the noble Joshua in The Ten Commandments (1956).

Derek also worked as a film director. He directed his wives, Ursula Andress, in two movies, and Linda Evans in one. His best known films as a director are those he directed with his fourth wife, Bo Derek (she starred in four of his movies). The 1990 film Ghosts Can't Do It was his last film in the director's chair. He also directed a pornographic film, Love You (1980), as well as two hit music videos for Shania Twain, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" and "Any Man of Mine".

Personal life

He was first married to actress Pati Behrs, née Pati Behrs Eristoff (February 13, 1922 - July 10, 2004). Pati Behrs was a Russian-born American actress, a grandniece of Leo Tolstoy. She was married to Derek from 1951 to 1957. They had two children, Russell and Sean. Derek took photos of all three of his last wives (at different times) for Playboy magazine.

Spouses

Pati Behrs (1951–1957)

Ursula Andress (1957–1966)

Linda Evans (1968–1974)

Bo Derek (1976–1998)

Death

He died from cardiovascular disease in Santa Maria, California at the age of 71. His remains were cremated.

Filmography

As actor

Features:

Since You Went Away (1944)

I'll Be Seeing You (1944)

A Double Life (1947)

Knock on Any Door (1949)

All the King's Men (1949)

Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950)

Mask of the Avenger (1951)

Saturday's Hero (1951)

The Family Secret (1951)

Scandal Sheet (1952)

Thunderbirds (1952)

Prince of Pirates (1953)

Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953)

The Last Posse (1953)

Mission Over Korea (1953)

Sea of Lost Ships (1954)

The Outcast (1954)

The Adventures of Hajji Baba (1954)

Prince of Players (1955)

An Annapolis Story (1955)

Run for Cover (1955)

The Leather Saint (1956)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Pirate of the Half Moon (1957)

Fury at Showdown (1957)

The Flesh Is Weak (1957)

Omar Khayyam (1957)

High Hell (1958)

Prisoner of the Volga (1959)

Exodus (1960)

Nightmare in the Sun (1965)

Once Before I Die (1966)

Short Subjects:

The Nest (1943)

Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Awards (1951)

Screen Snapshots: Meet Mr. Rhythm, Frankie Laine (1952)

Screen Snapshots: Hollywood's Mr. Movies (1952)

Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Stars to Remember (1954)

As director

Nightmare in the Sun (1965)

Once Before I Die (1966)

A Boy... a Girl (1969)

Childish Things (1969)

Love You (1980)

Fantasies (1981) (filmed in 1973)

Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)

Bolero (1984)

Ghosts Can't Do It (1990)