DEREK LUKE (Boobie Miles) is currently in New Orleans shooting his second film this year for Jerry Bruckheimer, Glory Road. In this film based on a true story, Luke will play the star basketball player on an all-black team in the 1960’s who goes on to beat an all-white undefeated Kentucky team in the NCAA finals.
Handsome and gifted with a winning grin, Derek Luke was relatively unknown except for appearances on the television series Moesha and The King of Queens. During the casting process for Antwone Fisher (2002), Luke’s determination and perseverance paid off when he caught the attention of the film’s first-time director, Denzel Washington, amongst hundreds of other young hopefuls. A New Jersey native and former employee at the Sony Pictures gift shop (where he sold candy for five years), Derek auditioned for the role of Antwone Fisher five times over a four-year period before he finally won the starring role that marked his big break into feature films, playing the real-life black sailor who must overcome his rage over the traumas of his youth. The young actor was heaped with critical accolades for his emotional, vulnerable performance.
Derek was next seen starring in Biker Boyz (2003) opposite Laurence Fishburne and Kid Rock, playing a rookie African-American motorcycle street racer hoping to dethrone the reigning champ.
Luke also recently starred in the critically acclaimed independent film, Pieces of April, written and directed by Peter Hedges (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?), opposite Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson.
Derek was last seen starring opposite Val Kilmer in the David Mamet feature Spartan for Warner Bros. Studios.
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