John Derek was an American actor, director, cinematographer, and photographer who had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death in 1998.

John Derek became a prominent young Hollywood actor in the late 1940s and 1950s, appearing in "Knock on Any Door," "All the King's Men," "Rogues of Sherwood Forest," "The Ten Commandments," and "Exodus." He later abandoned acting to focus on photography and filmmaking. Derek directed several movies built around his wives, including "Once Before I Die" with Ursula Andress, "Childish Things" with Linda Evans, and "Fantasies," "Tarzan, the Ape Man," "Bolero," and "Ghosts Can't Do It" with Bo Derek. Although most of his directorial work received poor reviews, his photography and visual presentation helped shape Bo Derek's public image after she became an international star through the 1979 comedy "10."

John Derek was born Derek Delevan Harris on August 12, 1926, in Hollywood, California. His father, Lawson Harris, was an actor and director, and his mother, Dolores Johnson, was an actress. He began appearing in films as a teenager, initially using the name Derek Harris.

After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he returned to Hollywood and attracted the attention of Humphrey Bogart. Bogart helped Derek secure the role of troubled young defendant Nick Romano in the 1949 social drama "Knock on Any Door." The part established Derek as a handsome and intense young leading man.

Also in 1949, Derek appeared in the Academy Award-winning political drama "All the King's Men." Columbia Pictures promoted him as a major star, casting him in the title role of "Rogues of Sherwood Forest" and in adventure films including "Mask of the Avenger" and "The Prince of Pirates."

Derek worked steadily throughout the 1950s. His best-known role from the decade was Joshua in Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 biblical epic "The Ten Commandments," starring Charlton Heston. He also appeared with John Wayne in "The Sea Chase" and later had roles in "The Vintage," "Prisoner of the Volga," and "Exodus."

On television, Derek starred as Ben Travis in the short-lived Western series "Frontier Circus" from 1961 to 1962. Despite his success and appearance, he later spoke dismissively about his own acting ability and said he had never enjoyed performing. By the mid-1960s, he had largely left acting behind.

Derek moved behind the camera as a producer, director, cinematographer, and photographer. His first major directing project was the 1966 World War II film "Once Before I Die," starring Ursula Andress. He followed it with "A Boy… a Girl" and "Childish Things."

His directing career became inseparable from his relationship with Bo Derek. He first directed her in "Fantasies," which was filmed in 1973 but not released until 1981. After Bo became famous in "10," the couple made "Tarzan, the Ape Man" in 1981, "Bolero" in 1984, and "Ghosts Can't Do It" in 1990. All three films emphasized Bo's beauty and sexuality, and all received strongly negative reviews. "Bolero" and "Ghosts Can't Do It" became especially associated with the Golden Raspberry Awards.

Derek was a skilled still photographer and shot extensive portrait work featuring Ursula Andress, Linda Evans, and Bo Derek. His photographs appeared in magazines including "Playboy." Late in his career, he directed the music videos for Shania Twain's "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" and "Any Man of Mine."

Derek was married four times. His first wife was actress and ballerina Pati Behrs, whom he married in 1948. They had two children, Russell and Sean Catherine Derek. The marriage ended after Derek became involved with Ursula Andress, whom he married in 1957. Andress became an international star after playing Honey Ryder in the 1962 James Bond film "Dr. No." She and Derek divorced in 1966.

Derek married Linda Evans in 1968. During their marriage, Evans reduced her acting workload and helped support his efforts to establish himself as a filmmaker and photographer. Their relationship ended after Derek began an affair with Mary Cathleen Collins, the teenage actress he renamed Bo Derek, during the production of "Fantasies." He was 46, and she was 16 when the relationship began. John and Bo married in 1976 and remained together for the rest of his life.

John Derek died on May 22, 1998, after emergency heart surgery. He was 71. He had been found unconscious at the Santa Ynez Valley home he shared with Bo and was taken to a hospital in Santa Maria, California.

Derek's legacy remains divided. As an actor, he was a recognizable figure in major studio films of the 1940s and 1950s. As a director, his films were rarely successful with critics or audiences. His strongest behind-the-camera talent was photography, and his carefully constructed images played a significant role in presenting Ursula Andress, Linda Evans, and especially Bo Derek as major beauty icons.