John Dierkes
John Dierkes

John Dierkes

Biography
Dierkes was born on February 10, 1905 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Brown University and subsequently went to work as an economist for the United States Department of State. In 1941 he joined the Red Cross and served in the Britain duringWorld War II. There he met director John Huston who recommended that he try Hollywood after the war. Instead, Dierkes went to work for the U.S. Treasury Department which coincidentally sent him to Hollywood to function as technical advisor for the film To the Ends of the Earth (1948). Because of his appearance and very tall frame (6 feet, 6 inches), Dierkes enjoyed a long career as a character actor, often portraying villains or soldiers. In the 1953 film Shane, Dierkes portrays villain Morgan Ryker, who is the last man shot by the title character, Shane, in the final bar room shootout. One of his more memorable scenes is in the 1960 film, The Alamo. Dierkes portrays a Tennessean named Jocko, who is torn between leaving before the attack to care for his blind wife, or staying to support the Texans' cause. Understanding that if Jocko stays to fight she will likely be widowed, Jocko's wife coaxes him to stay and defend the fort, despite her disability. Dierkes died in 1975 of emphesyma and was survived by his wife Cynthia, two sons, and two daughters.
Gender
Male
IMDb Id
nm0226109
Known For Department
Acting
Also Known As
Date of Birth
1905-02-10
Place of Birth
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Date of Death
1975-01-08

Known For

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Shane

Shane

Movie 1953
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The Haunted Palace
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The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer

Movie 1958
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The Alamo

The Alamo

Movie 1960
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Macbeth

Macbeth

Movie 1948
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The Raven

The Raven

Movie 1963
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The Left Handed Gun
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The Hanging Tree
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Valerie

Valerie

Movie 1957
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Johnny Cool

Johnny Cool

Movie 1963