I was born in London on 25th September 1958, and from an early age was fascinated with film and TV, I would entertain family and friends with impersonations of favourite actors and comedians such as Groucho Marx, Burt Lancaster, Jerry Lewis and Stan Laurel. Later I appeared in 1985 on the Six O’Clock Show impersonating Stan Laurel. At Christmas and family occasions I would be asked to sing for family and friends. I always dreamed of being on the stage or in a musical and on the big screen. My first ever job was working within the music industry for Record Mirror, Sounds and Music Week.There I met many great music writers such as the DJ John Peel( a lovely man) and many bands who came for interviews and parties.I wrote reviews of concerts and took photos of bands like The Jam,The Clash, The Stranglers and The Stukas. I became good friends with Paul Weller, Hugh Cornwall, Shane MacGowan ( The Nips/The Pogues)and Eddie and the Hot Rods.My pictures were published in Timeout,NME and Melody Maker.I was offered jobs with CBS records and EMI but turned them down.I used to visit Track Records,The Who office many times and had many good friends there including Mike Shaw ( Manager) and Paul Cummings later to become Co-Manager of Dire Staits! I also met Thunderclap Newman at the office and one day sang 'Something In The Air' with him whilst he accompanied me on piano! Peter Jones the Chief Editor of Billboard said of me one day "Derek, your enthusiasm for the music business has always been fantastic and you have great knowledge of the industry.You have a pleasant personality and you should go far in what ever you do". This was the man who discovered The Rolling Stones!Also I have been very lucky in working for one of my music heroes, the late George Harrison whom I met and spoke with a few times whilst working on few of his movies.He was my all time favorite Beatle! I trained at the Trinity College of Music, London with Jean Marshall, and I am a tenor having a two and a half octave range. It is rumored that the famous Irish tenor Josef Locke is my third cousin. My great-uncle Bert Mac was a famous Irish yodeler and recording artist in the 1930s. I was very fortunate enough to meet the stage and screen actor Sir Nigel Hawthorne, who was a close neighbour and friend. Nigel encouraged me to think about working within the acting profession and generously agreed to sponsor his application to join British Actor's Equity. Film Stars who were an inspiration to me were Robert Mitchum, James Coburn, Steve McQueen, and martial arts legend Bruce Lee, actors from the golden era of Hollywood, the likes of Tony Curtis, Errol Flynn and James Stewart. Musically, the films of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. I was very lucky to have had my first break as an actor on the Star Wars film, 'A New Hope' in 1976 - this was in fact his first job within the film business. I was chosen to appear as Medal Bearer and Massassi Temple Guard (Rebel Honor Guard).I even now have my own action figure which Hasbro released for the 30th Anniversary of the movie!From this start, I have been able to cultivate a career in film, winning parts in many major films made in England including, Victor/Victoria, Flash Gordon,Ragtime,The Mirror Crackd', Krull, The Living Daylights, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade plus many others and a little Stunt work. I also worked on TV productions and was PC Craig Lovell in The Bill from 1987 to 1991. I have been fortunate enough to work with many great actors, including Robert Mitchum, Julie Andrews, Jack Nicholson,Scatman Crothers, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Laurence Olivier, John Rhys-Davies, Stubby Kaye, George Hearn, Robert Preston and most recently Alec Baldwin. In my spare time,I sing and listen to music, practice Zen Buddhism and am interested in the works of Joseph Campbell, Taoism and Eastern philosophy.And a keen martial artist for 30 years, starting with Wu Shu Kwan and various other martial arts, including Tai Chi and Aikido. However, a big influence was Bruce Lee and I was fortunate enough to meet and talk with Linda Lee in 1976 when she was in London promoting her book about Bruce and their life together - ‘The Life and Tragic Death of Bruce Lee’. I am accomplished boxer and fencer, and a fully qualified swimming teacher and coach. At present I am in process of writing a book about my experiences and friendship with the late Marvin Gaye, whom I met in 1980 whilst working in Carnaby Street in a record shop called ‘Rock Dreams’. Marvin was in London working on his last album for Motown ‘In Our Lifetime’. I was a close friend for three years and travelled with Marvin to Belgium. It was Marvin who complimented me on my voice and offered that he would record with him, saying “Derek, you have a beautiful ballad voice and some day we will work together". I loved Marvin like a father and I know he loved me to. The day he died was a very sad day for the world of music and for me. On the 2nd April 1984 Marvins 45 birthday, I sent his agent Marilyn Freeman a telegram which read "DEAR MARVIN, I LOVE YOU AND YOUR SPIRIT WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART" Love Derek. I still think of those times together, running,singing,talking about God and the Universe, laughing and having fun.I will never forget Marvin and maybe some day I will see him again! I am a massive music and film fan and enjoy reading biographies of the Hollywood stars from the Golden Era.I love the works of Joseph Campbell and the music of Earth, Wind and Fire,Leonard Cohen, Marvin Gaye, love Jazz and Soul Music.
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