Derek Luke Net Worth

May 2024 · 10 minute read

Derek Luke net worth is
$5 Million

Derek Luke Wiki Biography

The American actor Derek Luke was born on 24 April 1974 in Jersey City, New Jersey USA, to mother Marjorie Dixon, a pianist, and father Maurice Luke, a former actor from Guyana. In 2002, when Denzel Washington chose him for the leading role of Antwone in the movie “Antwone Fisher, Luke’s childhood dream of becoming a film star came true. The performance brought him the Independent Spirit Award and Luke’s life changed over night. Of course, his net worth growth significantly intensified.

So just how rich is Derek Luke? It has been estimated by authoritative sources that the overall amount of the actor’s net worth reaches as much as $5 million, most of it clearly accumulated from his television and movie projects.

Derek Luke Net Worth $5 Million

After his parents divorced when he was in the third grade, Luke and his two brothers were raised by their mother whose poor musician earnings were forcing the family to frequently move around the city. His interest in drama was born when he was just a four-year-old boy telling his mother he wanted to be a famous actor. Despite growing up in the hood, Luke had strong role models in his mother and his uncles which made him focus on education, and eventually break into the acting world. He attended six different schools and finally settled in a performing arts school, Henry Snyder High School in Jersey City. In 1992 he graduated and continued on to Jersey State College to study acting. However, he soon became impatient, wanting to break into show business, so he moved to LA in hopes of making it big in Hollywood, taking jobs that would help him meet people in this industry, such as an usher for television tapings at the Universal Picture studios, and later as a sales clerk at a gift shop on the Sony Pictures Studios lot where he met Antwone Fisher whose memoir about his life was being made into a film. Luke was landing bit parts in the sitcoms “The King of Queens” and “Moesha” when he learned that Denzel Washington was to direct the Antwone Fisher film. He auditioned, and when the project went ahead in 2001 Luke was selected for a part by Washington. His net worth was to rise!

Luke’s next two movies in 2003 were “Pieces of April” and “Biker Boyz”. After his role as Curtis in “Spartan” in 2004, he played a high school football star in “Friday Night Lights” the same year and then in the popular 2006 movie “Catch A Fire” he played the role of Patrick Chamusso, a South African anti-apartheid activist. Of course these parts helped his net worth grow.

Luke would remain a familiar face on television for years to come. In 2008 he appeared in a romantic comedy “Definitely, Maybe” and a year after in “Notorious”, playing the role of the famous rapper Sean “Puffy” Combs, better known as Puff Daddy, with whom Luke has grown a long-lasting friendship. From 2009-2010 he played the role of a paramedic in the series “Trauma”, after which he appeared in another series “HawthoRNe” in 2011 and he was also cast to play Gabe Jones in “Captain America” the same year. In 2013 he appeared in the series “The Americans” and last year we saw him in the popular “Empire”, playing Malcom Devoe, head of security and Cookie’s secret love interest.

In his personal life, Luke has been married to Sophia Adella, a singer, for 17 years, sometime criticized by ‘ignorant’ African-American fans for marrying outside his race, which he strongly rejects. Conversely, Derek Luke has won millions of hearts all over the world.


Net Worth$5 Million
Date Of BirthApril 24, 1974
Place Of BirthJersey City, New Jersey, United States
Height5 ft 9 in (1.778 m)
ProfessionActor
EducationLinden High School
NationalityUnited States of America
SpouseSophia Adella Luke (m. 1998)
ParentsMaurice Luke, Marjorie Dixon
SiblingsMaurice Luke, Daniel Luke
NicknamesLuke
Twitterhttp://www.twitter.com/actorderekluke
IMDBwww.imdb.com/name/nm1035682
AwardsIndependent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead, BET Award for Best Actor, Satellite Special Achievement Award for Outstanding New Talent
NominationsNAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Breakout Star - Male, Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama, MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance - Male, Black Reel Award for Best Actor
MoviesAntwone Fisher, Notorious, Captain America: The First Avenger, Glory Road, Baggage Claim, Madea Goes to Jail, Sparkle, Biker Boyz, Friday Night Lights, Miracle at St. Anna, Catch a Fire, Definitely, Maybe, Self/less, Lions for Lambs, Pieces of April, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Suprem...
TV ShowsHawthorne, Trauma, 13 Reasons Why
#Quote
1I had a lot of fun with Val Kilmer. He's like a big kid.
2I love hip-hop and you can't tell me I'm not a hip-hop artist.
3I was discovered on the Sony lot through an audition by Denzel Washington.
4In my heart of hearts I believe I was made to entertain.
5I loved B.I.G., but not like I liked Tupac, because he was an actor, so I related to him.
6I was working at the store on the Sony studios in Culver City. And I was literally holding a shirt when they came in and told me I'd got the part! It just shows dreams do come true.
7Then I was working in a store in Newark, New Jersey, and I saw an actor in person, and I got so excited. My whole day changed. That's when I decided to challenge myself to make my dreams become a reality.
8I was watching TV at age 9 or 10, and my mom said that I came from the front room and I told her that I want to act. And she said if you want to do this at 18, then you can. It was a very simple story, yet, I do not even remember the conversation that I had with my mother. Until she reminded me of the story many years later.
9When your heart is first, you can be absent of heart but when you put spirit first, you have a reason for why you do heart.
10Denzel Washington invoked confidence. When you have confidence, you can do anything. And that's what happened. I learned about being honest and keeping it true, keeping it true in my performance.
11A few years ago you couldn't go from TV to film. It was like a 'no no' but I believe when you find a plan and purpose that God has for your life, there's not anything man can do to you. Especially when your faith is not really standing in the wisdom of man, you're really standing in the wisdom of God.
12I went to Jersey City State College to please a family member. I wasn't prepared for school. To say I failed out is putting it nicely.
13I tried to copy some of his mannerisms at first but it didn't work. And then I just let the spirit of the character grow in me and it just took its rightful place. I started to speak the lines and it felt right.
14Denzel Washington is a person I will always emulate. I emulate him because he focuses on real life. Because of that he has made me a better person.
15I want what's mine. I see other actors who are doing very interesting roles, and I just want to continue to do things that are interesting, and things that people will go see in theaters.
16I went to college for one semester, and I took every subject I could, and I ended up failing. So I thought to myself, Ever since I was a kid, I've loved expression - and that's when I started thinking about acting.
17I think it's time to do clean-up for a generation. I believe this is one of the movies that hits home for all colors and all races. Everybody I talk to, black or white, suburban, rich or poor, can relate to rejection, can relate to not having a father or a mother.
18Hip-hop was my first audience - I would rap in the mirror, walk down the street and listen to my Walkman.
19Oh, my God! My wife and I, boy, we got down that night. On a personal note!
20It's a story about victory that will touch the lives of everyone who watches it. It's powerful.
21Antwone's story was a story of hope and that's what appealed to me. I needed hope myself at that time. I think all actors give up at some time and think they're never going to make it.
22He's looking for the president's kidnapped daughter; everybody he calls on to help him is busy, but lo and behold, you look across the room, and I'm waiting for that action.
23Denzel's quality, I think, is his faith. You have all the action in your head and you have to believe in it and just do it. That's what he does and that's what he taught me to do.
#Fact
1Brought his wife, Sophia, on stage when he won the Independent Spirit Award for best actor ("Antwone Fisher") and handed her his award. He also revealed on stage that four years ago, he was waiting tables at the 1999 Spirit Awards.

All pictures

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
13 Reasons Why2017TV Series post-productionMr. Porter
Roots2016TV Mini-SeriesSilla Ba Dibba
Rogue2015-2016TV SeriesMarlon Dinard
Self/less2015Anton
Empire2015TV SeriesMalcolm Deveaux
Sight Unseen2014/III
Supremacy2014/IRaymond
Alex of Venice2014Frank
Baggage Claim2013William Wright
The Americans2013TV SeriesGregory Thomas
Second Sight2013TV MovieDet. Paul Giroux
Sparkle2012/IStix
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World2012Speck
Hawthorne2011TV SeriesDr. Miles Bourdet
Captain America: The First Avenger2011Gabe Jones
Trauma2009-2010TV SeriesCameron Boone
Madea Goes to Jail2009Joshua Hardaway
Notorious2009Sean 'Puffy' Combs
Miracle at St. Anna20082nd Staff Sergeant Aubrey Stamps
Definitely, Maybe2008Russell T. McCormack
Lions for Lambs2007Arian Finch
Catch a Fire2006Patrick Chamusso
Glory Road2006Bobby Joe Hill
Friday Night Lights2004Boobie Miles
Spartan2004Curtis
Biker Boyz2003Kid
Pieces of April2003Bobby
Antwone Fisher2002Antwone Fisher
Moesha2001TV SeriesRuckus
The King of Queens1999-2000TV SeriesDelivery Man / Orderly

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Notorious2009performer: "Party & Bullshit", "Warning", "Juicy"
Catch a Fire2006performer: "Sobashiya Abazali", "Tyy"

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
All the Pieces Together2004Video documentary short special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
HBO First Look2003TV Series documentaryHimself
Charlie Rose2002TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Total Request Live2002TV SeriesHimself
The Making of 'Antwone Fisher'2001TV Short documentaryHimself
The Talk2016TV SeriesHimself
Hollywood Today Live2016TV SeriesHimself
Made in Hollywood2012-2015TV SeriesHimself
The View2015TV SeriesHimself
The Late Late Show with James Corden2015TV SeriesHimself
BET Awards 20132013TV SpecialHimself
21st Annual Trumpet Awards2013TV SpecialHimself
Big Morning Buzz Live2012TV SeriesHimself
Captain America: The First Avenger - Howling Commandos2011Video shortHimself
Marvel LIVE! World Premiere of Captain America: The First Avenger2011Video shortHimself
Rip the Runway2009TV MovieHimself - Host
Lopez Tonight2009TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Entertainment Tonight2006-2009TV SeriesHimself
I Believe in Miracles2009Video documentaryHimself
Last Call with Carson Daly2009TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Bonnie Hunt Show2009TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Up Close with Carrie Keagan2008TV SeriesHimself - Guest
BET Awards '082008TV SpecialHimself
Tavis Smiley2006TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson2006TV SeriesHimself - Guest
'Friday Night Lights': The Story of the 1988 Permian Panthers2005Video documentary shortHimself
All the Pieces Together2004Video documentary shortHimself / Bobby
The 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards2003TV Movie documentaryHimself
34th NAACP Image Awards2003TV SpecialHimself
The 17th Annual Soul Train Music Awards2003TV SpecialHimself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno2003TV SeriesHimself - Guest

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2006Hollywood Breakthrough AwardHollywood Film AwardsBreakthrough ActorGlory Road (2006)
2003BET AwardBET AwardsBest ActorAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsTheatrical - Best ActorAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsBest Breakthrough Performance - Viewer's ChoiceAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003Independent Spirit AwardIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Male LeadAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003Special Achievement AwardSatellite AwardsOutstanding New TalentAntwone Fisher (2002)
2002NBR AwardNational Board of Review, USABreakthrough Performance - MaleAntwone Fisher (2002)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2014Hollywood AwardAcapulco Black Film FestivalBest Ensemble CastBaggage Claim (2013)
2010Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsBest Supporting ActorMadea Goes to Jail (2009)
2009Image AwardImage AwardsOutstanding Actor in a Motion PictureMiracle at St. Anna (2008)
2008Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsBest ActorMiracle at St. Anna (2008)
2007Black ReelBlack Reel AwardsBest ActorCatch a Fire (2006)
2006Satellite AwardSatellite AwardsBest Actor in a Motion Picture, DramaCatch a Fire (2006)
2003CFCA AwardChicago Film Critics Association AwardsMost Promising PerformerAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003MTV Movie AwardMTV Movie AwardsBreakthrough Male PerformanceAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003OFTA Film AwardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Breakthrough Performance - MaleAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003OFCS AwardOnline Film Critics Society AwardsBest Breakthrough PerformanceAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003PFCS AwardPhoenix Film Critics Society AwardsBest NewcomerAntwone Fisher (2002)
2003Teen Choice AwardTeen Choice AwardsChoice Movie Breakout Star - MaleAntwone Fisher (2002)

Known for movies


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