Derek Mears

Derek Mears

Mears at the Texas Frightmare Weekend in Lewisville, Texas, April 29, 2010
Born (1972-04-29) April 29, 1972
Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor/Stuntman
Years active 1995–present
Known for Jason Voorhees (Reboot)

Derek Mears (born April 29, 1972) is an American actor and stuntman, best known for his role as Jason Voorhees in the reboot of Friday the 13th and Hawes in Hatchet III.

Life and career

Mears was born in Bakersfield, California. He performed improv comedy at ComedySportz in Bakersfield. He graduated from Highland High School in Bakersfield in 1990.[1]

Mears has numerous credits both as a stuntman and as an actor. He had minor roles in The Tick, ER, Alias, Nash Bridges, Men in Black II, The Shield, CSI: NY, My Name Is Earl, Mr. & Mrs Smith, CSI: Miami, Community, and The Hills Have Eyes 2. His stunt credits include the films Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Blades of Glory, and TV series such as Angel and Bones. It should also be noted that Mears, though uncredited, was the first actor to portray the villain species known as the Borg in the second-season episode titled "Q, Who?" of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Mears got his breakthrough lead role in the new Friday the 13th film. He was recommended to the producers, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form of Platinum Dunes, by make-up and special effects guru Scott Stoddard, who created the new look for Mears' character, Jason Voorhees. Due to Mears' height at 6 ft 5.5 in (1.97 m) he is one of the tallest actors who ever portrayed Jason, beside Ken Kirzinger, who stands at a similar height to Mears. He was nominated for an MTV Movie Award in the category for Best Villain for his portrayal of Voorhees, but lost to Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

Mears did a lot of research on child development to flesh out the role of Camp Crystal Lake's notorious resident serial killer:

“ In the script, Jason watches his mother die in front of him. So I did research on, when you're that age how do your cognitive processes happen? How is the child supposed to be developing? I found out that at that age you're starting to be integrating into society, whether it's through group sports or group activities so that you find out you're not alone. I discovered that he missed that aspect. He was already an outcast from society for looking different and being disfigured, and his only connection to love and reality is his mother.[2] ”

He is contracted to return for either another Friday the 13th sequel or another film by Platinum Dunes.[3] If Mears reprises his role as Jason, he will be only the second person to portray the character more than once, next to Kane Hodder.[4][5] He portrayed a Classic Predator[6] in the 2010 science-fiction horror film sequel Predators.[7]

Mears appeared in Ultraforce 2 on the Superego Podcast. He also appeared in the American sitcom Community in the episode "“Romantic Expressionism". He appeared as a zombie, credited as "Master-at-Arms", in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.[8][9]

Mears appeared with other Horror actor Tyler Mane of the Rob Zombie Halloween movie reboot in "Compound Fracture" [10]

On June 5, 2013, it was reported that Warner Bros. relinquished their film rights to the Friday the 13th series back to Paramount as part of a deal that allows Warner Bros. to co-produce Interstellar.[11] One week later, Mears revealed that Paramount is working with Platinum Dunes to make a new installment "as fast as possible".[12]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Wild Wild West Stunts
2004 The Shield Crazyhouse TV series (one episode)
E.R. Joseph TV series (one episode)
2005 Cursed Werewolf Minor role
Zathura Lead Zorgon Minor role
2006 The Hills Have Eyes Larry
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Assistant of Davy Jones
Pro-Life The Father
2007 Blades of Glory Josh Cameo
The Hills Have Eyes 2 Chameleon Minor role
2008 Semi-Pro Himself
Resident Evil: Degeneration Curtis Miller/G Motion capture
2009 His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th Himself Documentary
Friday the 13th Jason Voorhees Lead role
2010 Predators "Classic" Predator Lead role
2010–2011 Community Kickpuncher Episodes:
"Intro to Political Science"
"Romantic Expressionism"
2011 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Master-at-Arms
Arena Brutus Jackson
2013 Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Edward
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Cyclops
Hatchet III Hawes
2013–2014 Comedy Bang! Bang! Irate Fan / Executioner / Mr. Hellman Episodes:
"Pee Wee Herman Wears a Halloween Costume"
"Patton Oswalt Wears a Black Blazer & Dress Shoes"
"Lizzy Caplan Wears All Black & Powder Blue Espadrilles"
2014 Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead Stavarin
Mighty Med Catastrophe Episode: There's a Storm Coming
Lost Time Mr. Elliot PsyTerror / Aliens
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dojo Ninja
2015 Freaks of Nature Wolf
2016 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping Limo Driver
Live by Night Donnie Gishler Post-production

References

External links

Preceded by
Ken Kirzinger		 Actors portraying Jason Voorhees
2009-present 		Succeeded by
None
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