John Dierkes
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Rifleman
Nel Svenson
1958
Series
Rawhide
Private
1959
Series
Rawhide
Martinson
1959
Series
Peter Gunn
1958
Series
Gunsmoke
Rydell
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Ace
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Indian
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Dahoma
1955
Series
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Charlie
1958
Series
Tales of Wells Fargo
Scanlon
1957
Series
Telephone Time
1956
State Trooper
1956
Lux Video Theatre
Jeb Bricker
1950
Film
Touch of Evil
Policeman (uncredited)
1958
Series
The Aquanauts
Inspector Crail
1960
Film
The Alamo
Jocko Robertson
1960
Film
Shane
Morgan Ryker
1953
Film
The Omega Man
Family Member
1971
Film
The Comancheros
Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited)
1961
Film
Macbeth
Ross
1948
Film
The Thing from Another World
Dr. Chapman
1951
Film
Johnny Cool
Cripple
1963
Film
One-Eyed Jacks
Chet
1961
Film
The Raven
Roderick Craven
1963
Film
Jubal
Carson - Horgan Rider
1956
Film
Friendly Persuasion
Farmer (uncredited)
1956
Film
The Buccaneer
Deacon
1958
Film
The Fastest Gun Alive
Cross Creek Townsman (uncredited)
1956
Film
Gun Fury
1953
Film
The Haunted Palace
Benjamin West / Jacob West
1963
Film
The Naked Jungle
Gruber
1954
Film
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
Preacher (uncredited)
1963
Film
The Left Handed Gun
McSween
1958
Film
The Hanging Tree
Society Red
1959
Film
Valerie
Bartender
1957
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Joe Bronson
1951
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Dr. Belvedere
1951
Film
The Guns of Fort Petticoat
Texas Storekeeper (uncredited)
1957
Film
The Raid
Cpl. Fred Deane
1954
Film
The Premature Burial
Sweeny
1962
Series
Adventures Of The Falcon
1954
Film
The Red Badge of Courage
Jim Conklin - the Tall Soldier
1951
Film
Not as a Stranger
Bursar
1955
Film
Les Miserables
Bosun (uncredited)
1952
Film
Silver City
Arnie
1951
Film
The Slowest Gun in the West
'Wild Bill' Monks
1960
Film
The Vanquished
General Morris
1953
Film
Hell's Outpost
Swede - the Cook (uncredited)
1954
Film
Convicts 4
Cell Block Guard (uncredited)
1962
Film
The Moonlighter
Sheriff Daws
1953
Film
The Buckskin Lady
Swanson
1957
Film
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Batley
1953
Film
The Oregon Trail
Gabe Hastings
1959
Film
The Desperado
Police Sergeant
1954
Film
Creepy Classics
Roderick Craven - (archive footage)
1987
Film
The Vanishing American
Freil
1955
Film
Daughter of Dr. Jekyll
Jacob
1957
Film
The Halliday Brand
Reverend
1957
Film
Rage
Bill Parker
1972
Film
Down Liberty Road
Soldier (Uncredited)
1957
Film
Duel at Apache Wells
Bill Sowers
1957
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
Jocko Robertson
1992
Film
Death in Small Doses
1957
Film
Three Husbands
Night Court Judge (uncredited)
1950
Film
Blood Arrow
Ez
1958
Film
Betrayed Women
Cletus Ballard
1955