Derek Luke is an American actor, winner of the Independent Spirit Award for his role in the film “The Story of Antoine Fisher” by producer and director Denzel Washington.
Known for his roles in the films "Bikers", "Playing by Others' Rules", "Spartan", "First Avenger", "The Miracle of St. Anne", "Sparkle". The growth of the actor is 1.80 m.
Derek's wife is actress Sophie Luke, nee Sophia Adella Hernandez.
Childhood and youth
Derek was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on 04.24.1974. Parents of the actor: mother - pianist Mariori Dixon, father - a former London actor, a Guyanese by birth Maurice Luke. Derek is the middle child in the family. His older brother's name is Maurice, like his father, and the youngest is Daniel.
When Luke was in third grade, his parents divorced. Mother alone raised three children. The family began to live very poorly and often moved. Derek had to change six schools.
In 1993, the guy graduated from a school in the city of Linden in New Jersey and enrolled in acting college at Jersey State College. Having studied for the whole semester, Luke dropped out of college and went to Los Angeles to meet his dream of becoming an actor.
Carier start
At first, Derek worked part-time at jobs that did not require special qualifications, and on weekends he went to auditions and tests, but he practically did not receive offers to act.
Over time, to be closer to the cinema world, the guy got a job as a salesman in a souvenir shop at Paramount Studio.
In 1999, Derek Luke starred in one of the episodes of the popular American television series King of Queens called White Collar. The actor also took part in the show "Trauma" on the NBC channel.
In the music video for Alicia Kish, Teenage Love Affair Derek played the role of the singer's lover. Luke also starred in the video of another music performer, Monica, for the song So Gone.
The painting "History of Antoine Fischer"
In 2002, a friend from the studio invited the guy to sample in Denzel Washington’s film “The History of Antoine Fischer”. This melodramatic film is based on real events.
To prepare for the screenings, Derek personally met with Antoine Fisher - a real person, a former US Navy sailor, about whom the film was made.
Finding the main character for the picture was not easy. Before actor Derek Luke was approved for the role, he went through the test five times. To inform that the guy is approved for the role, Denzel Washington himself came to the souvenir shop.
The film was very warmly received by critics, received the Independent Spirit Prizes of the Producers Guild, NAASP, BET Award, Critics' Choice, and Sputnik.
The role of Antoine Fisher launched the acting career of Derek and allowed him to get many new roles in the movie.
Films and roles of the 2000s
In 2003, Derek played the role of Kid in the melodramatic racing action film directed by Reggie Rock Bytwood "Bikers." The plot is based on the story of a simple kid Kid who wants to win in underground motorcycle racing. This dream is opposed by the king of motorcycle racing Smoke. Kid decides to organize his own motorcycle club.
Together with Luke in the film played: Laurence Fishborn, Orlando Jones, Lisa Bonet and Jimon Honsu.
It is interesting that the actors Orlando Jones, Kid Rock and Lawrence Fishborn are bikers not only in the movies, but also in real life.
In 2004, Luke paired with Val Kilmer starred in the thriller directed by David Mamet "Spartan". Derek Luke in this film plays with his wife Sophie Luke.
The film tells about a special agent Scott who is trying to free the daughter of one of the prominent American politicians from hostages.
The picture failed at the box office, with a film budget of $ 19 million, fees amounted to only 4 million.
In 2006, the film directed by James Gartner, "Playing by Others' Rules," based on real events, was released on the screens. In this sports drama about basketball, Derek got the role of basketball player Bobby Joe Hill, who, under the guidance of a coach, became one of the winners of the student championship in the 1965/66 season.
In 2008, the actor starred in the film about Spike Lee’s war, The Miracle of St. Anne. The guy got one of the four main roles, which was originally intended for the actor Wesley Snipes. Snipes could not play in the picture, because at that time his problems with paying taxes were widely discussed in the press.
In 2009, the list of films by Derek Luke was replenished with the musical picture "Notorius" directed by George Tillman Jr. The plot is based on the life story of rapper The Notorious BIG. The main roles in the film, except for Derek, were played by actors Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, Anthony Maki. Luke got the role of Sean “Puffy” Coomes.
The television series 13 Reasons Why
In 2017, Luke was invited to the role of Mr. Porter in a television series based on the novel by 13 Jay Asher's 13 Reasons Why. The creators of the series: Brian Yorkie and Diana Dream. The premiere took place in March 2017 on the Netflix channel.
The plot is based on the story of a schoolgirl girl who committed suicide, but before her death, sent cassettes to her classmate, which tells secrets about herself, about other schoolchildren and about the motives of her act.
The character of Luke - Kevin Porter - works as a school counselor and helps children understand themselves and solve their problems.
Other roles in the project were played by: Dylan Minnett, Christian Navarro, Katherine Langford, Alisha Bo, Brandon Flynn and other actors.
The audience liked the first season of the television series so much that the shooting of the second and third seasons of the show has already been announced.
The series "13 Reasons Why" was nominated for the MTV, Golden Globe, Sputnik Awards, received the Guild of Music Supervisors Award and the NAACP Award.
Personal life
Derek Luke is married to actress Sophie Luke (nee Sophie Hernandez), with whom he starred in the movie "Spartan".
In his free time, the actor earns money by acting in commercials and participating in various promotions.