By Robert Waldman The Afro News Vancouver : Good actors are hard to come by. Television has seen countless aspirants try to gain popular acceptance. One man who has bucked the trends and become a long term fixture on the small tube is Derek Webster. Known for a few big Hollywood movies its refreshing to see this man continue to develop as a major talent just chomping at the bit to break out to bigger and better things. Fans have come to expect quality work from this handsome hunk and he continues to deliver on a weekly basis to millions of entertainment hungry spectators around the globe.
Born and raised in Bakersfield California this thespian earned his educational stripes at The California Institute of the Arts. Derek’s first taste of success theatrically was in a low budget film back in 1981 called Enter the Ninja. Things have really taken off from that time for this individual who now has dozens of serious credits to his name.
Producers know a good thing when they see one be it from a film or television background. Types of characters one can find Derek’s likeness to include an ease playing physicians, law enforcement types or comical characters. And those smouldering good looks don’t hurt either. On television a small listing of Derek’s work include parts on CSI: Miami, Grey’s Anatomy, The Mentalist, The Return of Ironside, ER, Stargate, M.A.N.T.I.S, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Shield, The Nanny and much, much more.
Onto the big screen we go. Big budget successes of which Mr. Webster has been a part of include Independence Day, Godzilla and the recent Extraordinary Measures with former Indiana Jones legend Harrison Ford. Away from the hallowed halls of studios Derek Webster lets it all hang out in front of live people where he’s won rave reviews playing Othello and Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Seeing an actor on television or on screen is one thing: better still is seeing the real thing in person – live on stage. All the great actors have done stints in live theatre and to this illustrious list we must add Derek Webster, a strong winning personality able to tackle any role with finesse and selflessness.