Name	Derek Luke
Height	5' 11"
Naionality	American
Date of Birth	24 April 1974
Place of Birth	Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
Famous for

A native of New Jersey, Derek Luke always wanted to become an actor since childhood. Arriving at Los Angeles in 1995, Jersey State College graduate Luke started his career as a guide for Audiences Unlimited who helps viewers discover seats to various sitcom tapings on the Universal Studios lot, and then as a salesclerk on the Sony Pictures lot. While on the Sony lot, he met Antwone Fisher, a former Sony Pictures security guard who had recently become a screenwriter. Knowing that a film based on Fisher's life was being developed, Luke decided to join the auditions. He was good enough to earn a call back, but the film was put on hold due to the hectic schedule of the director, actor Denzel Washington.

Luke then began his acting training, attending some drama lessons to perfect his skills. In 1999, he finally broke into television on "The King of Queens," where he appeared as an orderly. He followed it up with another guest appearance on an episode of "Moesha" (2002).

In 2001, Luke retried his luck when the auditions for the Antwone Fisher movie were being held once again. His efforts blossomed when Luke was eventually hired to star in the title role of Denzel Washington's directorial debut Antwone Fisher (2002). Produced by Todd Black, the film gave opportunities for Luke to display his potential as the true-life black sailor who has to overcome his anger over the traumas of his youth. Luke's debut performance was critically applauded, and he was awarded such awards as an Independent Spirit for Best Male Lead, two Black Reels in the categories of Best Actor and Best Breakthrough Performance, a National Board of Review for Best Breakthrough Performance and a Golden Satellite for Outstanding New Talent. He also received a Breakthrough Male Performance nomination at the MTV Movie Award. Luke added his impressive achievement with a 2003 BET for Favorite Actor.

Following the huge success, the young actor landed the starring role of Bobby, the loving and supportive boyfriend of Katie Holmes' April Burns in the independent film Pieces of April (2003), penned and helmed by Sundance Festival fave Peter Hedges.
Luke next was cast opposite Laurence Fishburne, Orlando Jones, Lisa Bonet and Kid Rock in Biker Boyz (2003). The action movie saw Luke play a rookie African American motorcycle street racer who expects to overwhelm the reigning champ. In 2004, he costarred opposite Tia Texada and Val Kilmer in the crime-thriller Spartan (2004), a film by David Mamet, and appeared in a football-themed based on H.G. Bissinger's book, Friday Night Lights (2004), starring Billy Bob Thornton and Lucas Black. In 2006, he can add the James Gartner-directed sport-based Glory Road, starring Josh Lucas, and the drama Hotstuff (2006), starring with Bonnie Mbuli and Tim Robbins.