John Dierkes
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 10, 1905
- Died
- January 8, 1975
- Birthplace
- Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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.
Filmography
- John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
John Wayne's 'The Alamo' 1992
as Jocko Robertson
Creepy Classics 1987
as Roderick Craven - (archive footage)
Rage 1972
as Bill Parker
The Omega Man 1971
as Family Member
Johnny Cool 1963
as Cripple
The Haunted Palace 1963
as Benjamin West / Jacob West
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes 1963
as Preacher (uncredited)
The Raven 1963
as Roderick Craven
Convicts 4 1962
as Cell Block Guard (uncredited)
The Premature Burial 1962
as Sweeny
The Comancheros 1961
as Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited)
One-Eyed Jacks 1961
as Chet
The Alamo 1960
as Jocko Robertson
The Slowest Gun in the West 1960
as 'Wild Bill' Monks
The Oregon Trail 1959
as Gabe Hastings
The Hanging Tree 1959
as Society Red
The Buccaneer 1958
as Deacon
The Left Handed Gun 1958
as Alexander McSween
Blood Arrow 1958
as Ez
Touch of Evil 1958
as Policeman (uncredited)
Death in Small Doses 1957
Actor
Valerie 1957
as Bartender
The Buckskin Lady 1957
as Swanson
Daughter of Dr. Jekyll 1957
as Jacob
The Guns of Fort Petticoat 1957
as Texas Storekeeper (uncredited)
Duel at Apache Wells 1957
as Bill Sowers
Down Liberty Road 1957
as Soldier (Uncredited)
The Halliday Brand 1957
as Reverend
Friendly Persuasion 1956
as Farmer (uncredited)
The Fastest Gun Alive 1956
as Cross Creek Townsman (uncredited)
Jubal 1956
as Carson - Horgan Rider
The Vanishing American 1955
as Freil
Betrayed Women 1955
as Cletus Ballard
Not as a Stranger 1955
as Bursar
Hell's Outpost 1954
as Swede - the Cook (uncredited)
The Raid 1954
as Cpl. Fred Deane
The Desperado 1954
as Police Sergeant
The Naked Jungle 1954
as Gruber
Gun Fury 1953
Actor
The Moonlighter 1953
as Sheriff Daws
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1953
as Batley
The Vanquished 1953
as General Morris
Shane 1953
as Morgan Ryker
Les Miserables 1952
as Bosun (uncredited)
Silver City 1951
as Arnie
The Red Badge of Courage 1951
as Jim Conklin - the Tall Soldier
The Thing from Another World 1951
as Dr. Chapman
Three Husbands 1950
as Night Court Judge (uncredited)
Macbeth 1948
as Ross
Credits from TMDB.