Derek Wayne Johnson was born February 23, 1983 in Carthage, Texas, a small town located in the heart of East Texas. He was raised on Lake Murvaul, near Carthage, where his imagination ran wild, setting the stage for his future as an artist.  

Showing signs of early ambition and talent, Derek began acting and filmmaking at an early age. In high school, he studied under mentor and future Within Us co-star Donnie Pitchford, and won several awards for short films in which he wrote, directed, starred in, and edited. The awards included consecutive 1^st place and Best of Fair honors, beating out all his competitors in the state of Texas. Derek carried that ambition with him when he attended Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art (Cinematography/Filmmaking). While attending SFA, he focused on acting, writing, and directing, which led him to become the first SFA film student to serve both behind the camera as well as in front, in the SFA feature film Within Us. Derek created the story, was a co-writer, directed, edited, and starred in the critically acclaimed film. 

Derek has starred in numerous award winning short films, feature films, music videos, commercials, PSAs, documentaries, and mockumentaries, many of which he wrote and directed. He has also worked on several Hollywood film sets, allowing him the opportunity to work with some of the best actors and filmmakers in the business.

He takes pride in his study as an actor, being trained by friends and colleagues Barbara Brinkley, C.S.A., and Brad Maule of General Hospital and 7^th Heaven fame. He has studied different aspects of acting, finding himself particularly fond of method acting and character acting. Derek also takes pride in his filmmaking studies, having been trained by the renowned Professor William E. Arscott in the art of cinematography.  

Recently, Derek completed his feature film manuscript, Innocent’s Way, in which he is to direct and play a role. He spent several months researching, traveling, conducting interviews, and writing the script, and is currently working on getting it produced as a major motion picture. 

When Derek is not acting or making films, he spends his time writing, teaching martial arts, studying acting and filmmaking, spending time with family and friends, giving speeches, helping fellow actors and filmmakers, and enjoying what life has to offer. 

Derek plans to further his career on and off screen, portraying characters and telling stories that really say something about life, society, family, and mankind.