Derek Luke, born April 24, 1974, in Jersey City, New Jersey, is an American actor best known for his breakout role as Antwone Fisher in the 2002 film of the same name, directed by Denzel Washington. This performance earned him the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead, launching a distinguished career.
He has portrayed a range of characters in critically acclaimed films such as Boobie Miles in Friday Night Lights (2004), Bobby Joe Hill in Glory Road (2006), and Gabe Jones in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). On television, Luke gained a new generation of fans as Kevin Porter in the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why (2017–2020).
Raised by Marjorie Dixon, a pianist, and Maurice Luke, a former actor originally from Georgetown, Guyana, Derek attended Henry Snyder High School and graduated from Linden High School. His background and early exposure to the arts helped shape his approach to performance and storytelling.
