John Dierkes
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
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
as Jocko Robertson
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
as Jocko Robertson
Creepy Classics
as Roderick Craven - (archive footage)
Creepy Classics
as Roderick Craven - (archive footage)
Rage
as Bill Parker
Rage
as Bill Parker
The Omega Man
as Family Member
The Omega Man
as Family Member
Johnny Cool
as Cripple
Johnny Cool
as Cripple
The Haunted Palace
as Benjamin West / Jacob West
The Haunted Palace
as Benjamin West / Jacob West
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
as Preacher (uncredited)
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
as Preacher (uncredited)
The Raven
as Roderick Craven
The Raven
as Roderick Craven
Convicts 4
as Cell Block Guard (uncredited)
Convicts 4
as Cell Block Guard (uncredited)
The Premature Burial
as Sweeny
The Premature Burial
as Sweeny
The Comancheros
as Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited)
The Comancheros
as Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited)
One-Eyed Jacks
as Chet
One-Eyed Jacks
as Chet
The Alamo
as Jocko Robertson
The Alamo
as Jocko Robertson
The Slowest Gun in the West
as 'Wild Bill' Monks
The Slowest Gun in the West
as 'Wild Bill' Monks
The Oregon Trail
as Gabe Hastings
The Oregon Trail
as Gabe Hastings
The Hanging Tree
as Society Red
The Hanging Tree
as Society Red
The Buccaneer
as Deacon
The Buccaneer
as Deacon
The Left Handed Gun
as McSween
The Left Handed Gun
as McSween
Blood Arrow
as Ez
Blood Arrow
as Ez
Touch of Evil
as Policeman (uncredited)
Touch of Evil
as Policeman (uncredited)
Death in Small Doses
Death in Small Doses
Valerie
as Bartender
Valerie
as Bartender
The Buckskin Lady
as Swanson
The Buckskin Lady
as Swanson
Daughter of Dr. Jekyll
as Jacob
Daughter of Dr. Jekyll
as Jacob
The Guns of Fort Petticoat
as Texas Storekeeper (uncredited)
The Guns of Fort Petticoat
as Texas Storekeeper (uncredited)
Duel at Apache Wells
as Bill Sowers
Duel at Apache Wells
as Bill Sowers
The Halliday Brand
as Reverend
The Halliday Brand
as Reverend
Down Liberty Road
as Soldier (Uncredited)
Down Liberty Road
as Soldier (Uncredited)
Friendly Persuasion
as Farmer (uncredited)
Friendly Persuasion
as Farmer (uncredited)
The Fastest Gun Alive
as Cross Creek Townsman (uncredited)
The Fastest Gun Alive
as Cross Creek Townsman (uncredited)
The Vanishing American
as Freil
The Vanishing American
as Freil
Betrayed Women
as Cletus Ballard
Betrayed Women
as Cletus Ballard
Not as a Stranger
as Bursar
Not as a Stranger
as Bursar
The Raid
as Cpl. Fred Deane
The Raid
as Cpl. Fred Deane
The Naked Jungle
as Gruber
The Naked Jungle
as Gruber
Gun Fury
Gun Fury
The Moonlighter
as Sheriff Daws
The Moonlighter
as Sheriff Daws
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Batley
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Batley
The Vanquished
as General Morris
The Vanquished
as General Morris
Shane
as Morgan Ryker
Shane
as Morgan Ryker
Les Miserables
as Bosun (uncredited)
Les Miserables
as Bosun (uncredited)
Silver City
as Arnie
Silver City
as Arnie
The Red Badge of Courage
as Jim Conklin - the Tall Soldier
The Red Badge of Courage
as Jim Conklin - the Tall Soldier
The Thing from Another World
as Dr. Chapman
The Thing from Another World
as Dr. Chapman
Three Husbands
as Night Court Judge (uncredited)
Three Husbands
as Night Court Judge (uncredited)
Macbeth
as Ross
Macbeth
as Ross