Person Details
Birthday: 1905-02-10 16:08:44
Death: 1975-01-08 16:08:44
Aliases: No known aliases
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Cincinnati - Ohio - USA
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 39
TV Involvements: 10
Most Famous Work
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.
Most Famous Work
Rawhide
(1959) MartinsonWells Fargo
(1957) ScanlonWanted: Dead or Alive
(1958) CharlieLux Video Theatre
(1950) Jeb BrickerGunsmoke
(1955) DahomaThe Aquanauts
(1960) Inspector CrailTouch of Evil
(1958) Policeman (uncredited)One-Eyed Jacks
(1961) ChetActing
Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
---|---|---|
1992 | Jocko Robertson | |
1987 | Roderick Craven - (archive footage) | |
1972 | Bill Parker | |
1971 | Family Member | |
1963 | Cripple | |
Benjamin West / Jacob West | ||
Preacher (uncredited) | ||
Roderick Craven | ||
1962 | Cell Block Guard (uncredited) | |
Sweeny | ||
1961 | Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited) | |
Chet | ||
1960 | Jocko Robertson | |
Inspector Crail | ||
'Wild Bill' Monks | ||
1959 | Gabe Hastings | |
Society Red | ||
Private | ||
Martinson | ||
1958 | Deacon | |
N/A | ||
N/A | ||
Charlie | ||
McSween | ||
Ez | ||
Policeman (uncredited) | ||
1957 | Bartender | |
Swanson | ||
Jacob | ||
Texas Storekeeper (uncredited) | ||
Scanlon | ||
Bill Sowers | ||
1956 | N/A | |
N/A | ||
N/A | ||
Carson - Horgan Rider | ||
1955 | Freil | |
Rydell | ||
Ace | ||
Indian | ||
Dahoma | ||
Cletus Ballard | ||
Bursar | ||
1954 | Swede - the Cook (uncredited) | |
Cpl. Fred Deane | ||
N/A | ||
Police Sergeant | ||
Gruber | ||
1953 | Sheriff Daws | |
Batley | ||
General Morris | ||
Morgan Ryker | ||
1952 | Bosun (uncredited) | |
1951 | Arnie | |
Joe Bronson | ||
Dr. Belvedere | ||
Jim Conklin - the Tall Soldier | ||
Dr. Chapman | ||
1950 | Night Court Judge (uncredited) | |
Jeb Bricker | ||
1948 | Ross | |
Year | Character | Movie/Tv |