John Dierkes
Known for Acting · 61 credits
- Born
- 1905-02-10
- Died
- 1975-01-08
- Place of birth
- 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.
Known For
TV Shows (12)
The Rifleman
1958
as Nel Svenson
Rawhide
1959
as Private / Martinson
Peter Gunn
1958
Tales of Wells Fargo
1957
as Scanlon
Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as Charlie
Gunsmoke
1955
as Rydell / Ace / Indian / Dahoma
Telephone Time
1956
State Trooper
1956
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Jeb Bricker
The Aquanauts
1960
as Inspector Crail
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Joe Bronson / Dr. Belvedere
Adventures Of The Falcon
1954
Movies (49)
Shane
1953
as Morgan Ryker
Touch of Evil
1958
as Policeman (uncredited)
The Alamo
1960
as Jocko Robertson
The Comancheros
1961
as Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited)
Friendly Persuasion
1956
as Farmer (uncredited)
Rage
1972
as Bill Parker
Gun Fury
1953
The Raven
1963
as Roderick Craven
The Omega Man
1971
as Family Member
One-Eyed Jacks
1961
as Chet
The Thing from Another World
1951
as Dr. Chapman
The Buccaneer
1958
as Deacon
Les Miserables
1952
as Bosun (uncredited)
The Haunted Palace
1963
as Benjamin West / Jacob West
The Red Badge of Courage
1951
as Jim Conklin - the Tall Soldier
Jubal
1956
as Carson - Horgan Rider
The Left Handed Gun
1958
as McSween
The Naked Jungle
1954
as Gruber
Johnny Cool
1963
as Cripple
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
1963
as Preacher (uncredited)
Macbeth
1948
as Ross
The Hanging Tree
1959
as Society Red
Convicts 4
1962
as Cell Block Guard (uncredited)
The Fastest Gun Alive
1956
as Cross Creek Townsman (uncredited)
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1953
as Batley
Creepy Classics
1987
as Roderick Craven - (archive footage)
Not as a Stranger
1955
as Bursar
The Slowest Gun in the West
1960
as 'Wild Bill' Monks
The Vanquished
1953
as General Morris
The Guns of Fort Petticoat
1957
as Texas Storekeeper (uncredited)
Three Husbands
1950
as Night Court Judge (uncredited)
The Raid
1954
as Cpl. Fred Deane
The Premature Burial
1962
as Sweeny
The Desperado
1954
as Police Sergeant
The Buckskin Lady
1957
as Swanson
Death in Small Doses
1957
The Oregon Trail
1959
as Gabe Hastings
Valerie
1957
as Bartender
Silver City
1951
as Arnie
The Moonlighter
1953
as Sheriff Daws
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
1992
as Jocko Robertson
Hell's Outpost
1954
as Swede - the Cook (uncredited)
The Vanishing American
1955
as Freil
Blood Arrow
1958
as Ez
The Halliday Brand
1957
as Reverend
Duel at Apache Wells
1957
as Bill Sowers
Daughter of Dr. Jekyll
1957
as Jacob
Betrayed Women
1955
as Cletus Ballard
Down Liberty Road
1957
as Soldier (Uncredited)
About John Dierkes
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 appeara… With 61 credits spanning from 1948 to 1992, John Dierkes has appeared in 49 films and 12 TV shows.
Fans searching for John Dierkes movies, John Dierkes filmography, or the latest projects starring John Dierkes can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular John Dierkes Movies
- Shane (1953) — as Morgan Ryker
- Touch of Evil (1958) — as Policeman (uncredited)
- The Alamo (1960) — as Jocko Robertson
- The Comancheros (1961) — as Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited)
- Friendly Persuasion (1956) — as Farmer (uncredited)
Where to Watch John Dierkes Films
Most John Dierkes movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring John Dierkes, check our movies catalogue and browse page.