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Background:
"My mother gave me a book, Understanding and Fulfilling Your Potential, when I
was 19. It talked about how everything you do tells you that you have no choice
but to be who you are. It talked about pursuing your purpose, and that's what I
went after." Derek Luke
African American actor Derek Luke gathered widespread acclaimed and appreciation
after playing the starring role of a real-life black sailor in Denzel
Washington's directorial debut Antwone Fisher (2002). For his brilliant, wide
screen debut performance, Luke took home several awards, including an
Independent Spirit Award, a National Board of Review Award, a Golden Satellite
Award, two Black Reel Awards and a BET Award, as well as a MTV Movie nomination.
His films credits include Biker Boyz (2003), Spartan (2004) and Friday Night
Lights (2004). Luke's admirers should not ignore his performance in the most
recent films like the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Glory Road (2006) and the
Phillip Noyce-directed Hotstuff (2006).
Off screen, 5' 11" inch tall Luke has been married to singer/actress Sophia
Adella Hernandez in 1998. In 2003, when he won the Independent Spirit Award,
Luke brought his wife on stage and handed her his first award. On stage, Luke
also disclosed that four years ago, he was waiting tables at the 1999 Spirit
Awards.
Guyana Roots
Childhood and Family:
In Jersey City, New Jersey, Derek Luke was born on April 24, 1974. His mother is
Marjorie Dixon and his father is Maurice, a Guyana native. He has two brothers,
Daniel (born in 1982) and Maurice (born in 1972). As a child, Derek had showed a
great passion toward acting. When he was only four, little Derek asked his
mother to let him become an actor. Seventeen years later, he made his way to
California to help fulfill his childhood's dream to be a performer.
Growing up in Jersey City, New Jersey, Derek attended Jersey State College in
New Jersey. At age 24, in 1998, Luke happily married his girlfriend,
actress/singer Sophia Adella Hernandez. The couple currently resides in their
home in Pasadena.
Hotstuff
Career:
A native of New Jersey, Derek Luke always wanted to become an actor since
childhood. Arriving at Los Angeles in 1995, Jersey State College graduate Luke
started his career as a guide for Audiences Unlimited who helps viewers discover
seats to various sitcom tapings on the Universal Studios lot, and then as a
salesclerk on the Sony Pictures lot. While on the Sony lot, he met Antwone
Fisher, a former Sony Pictures security guard who had recently become a
screenwriter. Knowing that a film based on Fisher's life was being developed,
Luke decided to join the auditions. He was good enough to earn a call back, but
the film was put on hold due to the hectic schedule of the director, actor
Denzel Washington.
Luke then began his acting training, attending some drama lessons to perfect his
skills. In 1999, he finally broke into television on "The King of Queens," where
he appeared as an orderly. He followed it up with another guest appearance on an
episode of "Moesha" (2002).
In 2001, Luke retried his luck when the auditions for the Antwone Fisher movie
were being held once again. His efforts blossomed when Luke was eventually hired
to star in the title role of Denzel Washington's directorial debut Antwone
Fisher (2002). Produced by Todd Black, the film gave opportunities for Luke to
display his potential as the true-life black sailor who has to overcome his
anger over the traumas of his youth. Luke's debut performance was critically
applauded, and he was awarded such awards as an Independent Spirit for Best Male
Lead, two Black Reels in the categories of Best Actor and Best Breakthrough
Performance, a National Board of Review for Best Breakthrough Performance and a
Golden Satellite for Outstanding New Talent. He also received a Breakthrough
Male Performance nomination at the MTV Movie Award. Luke added his impressive
achievement with a 2003 BET for Favorite Actor.
Following the huge success, the young actor landed the starring role of Bobby,
the loving and supportive boyfriend of Katie Holmes' April Burns in the
independent film Pieces of April (2003), penned and helmed by Sundance Festival
fave Peter Hedges.
Luke next was cast opposite Laurence Fishburne, Orlando Jones, Lisa Bonet and
Kid Rock in Biker Boyz (2003). The action movie saw Luke play a rookie African
American motorcycle street racer who expects to overwhelm the reigning champ. In
2004, he costarred opposite Tia Texada and Val Kilmer in the crime-thriller
Spartan (2004), a film by David Mamet, and appeared in a football-themed based
on H.G. Bissinger's book, Friday Night Lights (2004), starring Billy Bob
Thornton and Lucas Black. In 2006, he can add the James Gartner-directed
sport-based Glory Road, starring Josh Lucas, and the drama Hotstuff (2006),
starring with Bonnie Mbuli and Tim Robbins.
Awards:
- BET Award: Favorite Actor, 2003
- Independent Spirit: Best Male Lead, Antwone Fisher, 2003
- Black Reel: Theatrical - Best Actor, Antwone Fisher, 2003
- Black Reel: Best Breakthrough Performance - Viewer's Choice, Antwone
Fisher, 2003
- National Board of Review: Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actor,
Antwone Fisher, 2003
- Golden Satellite: Special Achievement, Outstanding New Talent, 2003
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