Derek started his professional theater career in Portland, Oregon off with a bang (that 'bang' being the sound of his 11 year old body falling off a set-piece.) Knowing he could either stop the show and ruin the magic or choose to get up and keep telling the story is what has kept his 20+ year career going.
In Portland, Derek performed at Northwest Children's Theatre and is a graduate of the Young Professional training with Oregon Children's Theater. He performed with Profile, Broadway Rose, Lakewood, CoHo, and at Artists Repertory Theater, where he was in the west coast premiere of Speech & Debate.
Derek moved to Chicago to study at Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts conservatory program, where he received his BFA in Acting. After graduating, Derek founded Fearless Theater. A company that highlights the joys and perils of the teenage odyssey. His company paired productions with local and national charities to help spread awareness of thematic events around the plays. In Chicago, Derek helped to devise and performed in the ground-breaking sight-specific piece "Since I Suppose" conceived by the Australian theater group, one step at a time like this with Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Derek also performed as an actor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Artistic Home, Raven, and Eclectic theatre.
After living in Chicago, Derek made the move to New York City where he currently attending NYU and is earning his Master's in Theater Education for Colleges and Communities, to continue his passion of education and directing Theatre for Young Audiences.
As a commercial and print model Derek can be seen in Harper's Bazaar with Katie Holmes! Other projects include: Cross Country Mortgage, RoMind, Hubble Lenses, Gravity Blanket, RedBox, Plant Caddy Shelf, and Power Swab Teeth Whitener.
CONTACT: Manager: Ally Taylor Artists Theatre/Film Rep: Sue Winik & Margaret Emory, SW Artists Print/Commercial Rep: Tom Lasalla, Bella NY