John Dierkes
Born February 10, 1905 (Age: 121)
•
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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.
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.
Read more
Filmography
No Image
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
1992
•
as Jocko Robertson
•
Age: 87
Creepy Classics
1987
•
as Roderick Craven - (archive footage)
•
Age: 82
Rage
1972
•
as Bill Parker
•
Age: 67
The Omega Man
1971
•
as Family Member
•
Age: 66
Johnny Cool
1963
•
as Cripple
•
Age: 58
The Haunted Palace
1963
•
as Benjamin West / Jacob West
•
Age: 58
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
1963
•
as Preacher (uncredited)
•
Age: 58
The Raven
1963
•
as Roderick Craven
•
Age: 57
Convicts 4
1962
•
as Cell Block Guard (uncredited)
•
Age: 57
The Premature Burial
1962
•
as Sweeny
•
Age: 57
The Comancheros
1961
•
as Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited)
•
Age: 56
One-Eyed Jacks
1961
•
as Chet
•
Age: 56
The Alamo
1960
•
as Jocko Robertson
•
Age: 55
The Slowest Gun in the West
1960
•
as 'Wild Bill' Monks
•
Age: 55
The Oregon Trail
1959
•
as Gabe Hastings
•
Age: 54
The Hanging Tree
1959
•
as Society Red
•
Age: 54
The Buccaneer
1958
•
as Deacon
•
Age: 53
The Left Handed Gun
1958
•
as McSween
•
Age: 53
Blood Arrow
1958
•
as Ez
•
Age: 53
Touch of Evil
1958
•
as Policeman (uncredited)
•
Age: 53
Friendly Persuasion
1956
•
as Farmer (uncredited)
•
Age: 51
The Fastest Gun Alive
1956
•
as Cross Creek Townsman (uncredited)
•
Age: 51
Jubal
1956
•
as Carson - Horgan Rider
•
Age: 51
The Vanishing American
1955
•
as Freil
•
Age: 50
Betrayed Women
1955
•
as Cletus Ballard
•
Age: 50
Not as a Stranger
1955
•
as Bursar
•
Age: 50
Hell's Outpost
1954
•
as Swede - the Cook (uncredited)
•
Age: 49
The Raid
1954
•
as Cpl. Fred Deane
•
Age: 49
The Desperado
1954
•
as Police Sergeant
•
Age: 49
The Naked Jungle
1954
•
as Gruber
•
Age: 49
Gun Fury
1953
•
as
•
Age: 48
The Moonlighter
1953
•
as Sheriff Daws
•
Age: 48
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1953
•
as Batley
•
Age: 48
The Vanquished
1953
•
as General Morris
•
Age: 48
Shane
1953
•
as Morgan Ryker
•
Age: 48
Three Husbands
1950
•
as Night Court Judge (uncredited)
•
Age: 45