DEREK DE LINT | Biography

      Derek de Lint (birthname is Dick Hein de Lint) was born July 17, 1950 in The Hague.
       From 1970 to 1972 he studied photography and graphic design at the Kunstacademie in Enschede, followed by two years of Kleinkunstacademie in Amsterdam: "Each morning we began with ballet. From nine o'clock to ten - classic, then a hour of jazz-ballet and sometimes Spanish dance as well. You ought to be ready by nine o'clock in your leotard and bandage, else director Johan Verdoner kick you out of the academy."
      In 1975 Derek de Lint made his theatre debut as Rik Vandaele with Thuis from Belgian Hugo Claus (see rehearsal of 'Thuis' on right photo): "Really I will make something with cabaret. I had cabaret- programma together with a boy and a girl. Only this was rejected and I was empty-handed. My teacher of Spanish dance, Marino Westra, met by chance at that time with Hugo Claus and Sylvia Kristel (Hugo's wife). And Hugo said that he wanted an actor for his piece 'Thuis. At the time Hugo and Sylvia knew that I made money on the side as a photomodel for the Lana magazine. And I was allowed to do a screen test. It happened in Carré (it's the most important theatre in Amsterdam - note of René van Dam), in a decor of Cyrano de Bergerac. I read a few stories at an empty hall will seat two thousand. In the first row Hugo sat with whiskey in his hand, near him is Guus Oster, who is going to produce 'Thuis. Afterward Oster said: 'At least you can say in the future that your career began in Carré'. And I received the role of Rik."
      In the following season Derek de Lint played Brad Majors in the production 'The Rocky Horror Show' directed by O'Brien: "...I have received such good criticism, Paul Verhoeven and Ineke van Weezel, who had seen 'Thuis' as well, set eyes on me. And Rob Houwer with Ineke van Weezel were at this show to see if I was suitable for the leading role in 'Soldier of the Orange'. At first talk Ineke said: 'Oh, Derek, it's a film for five million' (guldens, about $2.5 million. It was the most expensive Dutch film). I was thunderstruck and lost my head. The screen test was a failure. I was still so uncertain. Then I received the role of Alex."
      After 'Soldier of the Orange' Derek de Lint has played in some movies and TV series, including the leading role in 'Kort Amerikaans', where he was a cynical young boy, whose sexually explosive character can not satisfy any women. Then De Lint had a second meeting with Paul Verhoeven: "A story with 'Spetters' characterized in fact Paul's position to actors. He had asked me if I would do a screen test for 'Spetters'. I received a script with a lot of trouble. After the second test Paul said that I will star as Rien. A few days later I received a note from Hans Kemna, Paul's assistant, that publicity of 'Kort Amerikaans' cuts across their film and they refuse further cooperation. Have they meant the publicity for 'Kort Amerikaans' at TV - Privé? (the most scandalous show on Dutch TV - see the notes below.) I'm not responsible for that. Afterward they said that I was older than this character and cut across the cast, only I do not seen such note."

      At last Derek de Lint was the presented success with two of the best Dutch films to emerge during the 80s: Rudolph van den Berg's Bastille (1984) and Fons Rademakers' The Assault (1986). In 'Bastille', which was based on a popular European novel by Leon de Winter, he was brilliant as Paul de Wit, a 37-year-old Jewish Amsterdam history teacher who is haunted by memories of the family he lost in the Holocaust. 'The Assault' told the story of physician Anton Steenwijk whose family was killed by the Nazis during WWII. The film had received the Academy Award, the Golden Globe and prizes at the international festival in Seattle. A Dutch magazine 'Viva' awarded Derek de Lint with the 'Vergulde Klaver' prize as the best actor.
      From 1987 to 1989, Derek de Lint has appeared in twelve American and European films and TV series, including Mascara (1987) with Charlotte Rampling and Philip Kaufman's The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) with Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche. He was magnificent as the famous French philosopher, Peter Abelard in Clive Donner'sStealing Heaven (1988), the love story of Abelard and Hélôise. On television Derek de Lint provided a love interest for Dana Delany on ABC's 'China Beach' as Dr. Bernard. Also he has starred as a Russian KGB officer Abramov in The Endless Game (1989), a spy thriller, which was directed by Bryan Forbes from his best-selling novel; and Bertrand de Roujay in a tremendous six part drama The Free Frenchman(1989), a story about a brilliant French aristocrat who played an active part in the Resistance struggle to free France from the Nazis.
      After The Assault success it seemed that Derek de Lint could attract more attention in his own country. But, according to a Dutch director Roeland Kerbosch who had shooting in 1995 'Affair Play' starring de Lint, the actor was underrated in Holland, maybe because of his foreign works in the cinema. Until recently Derek de Lint was not going to leave Holland for ever.

"My family counts for a great deal for my career, my wife has fine job in Amsterdam, my children have school, in which they like to study."
"In Hollywood you sit closer to "fire". All right, but you have to remind yourself constantly, remind yourself that you are still good. When you find yourself in the well-known Hollywood circles and when you are young, first of all they say: Derek de Lint, who is he? Then it follows: we want to give a role to Derek de Lint. When you're getting an oldish man, it sounds: it is necessary to find someone who looks like Derek de Lint. Then it sounds familiar: and who is he?" *

Derek de Lint has played a lot romantic roles. But after forty he began to think of changing of his image: "...Now I have to play persons of ripe years. But it does not make me unhappy. There are interesting potentialities in this age as well." *
His previous works include 1995 featuring films All Men Are Mortal (Gold Award Winner Houston International Film Festival) with Irene Jacob and Stephen Rea, Affair Play with Lysette Anthony, Long Live the Queen with Monique van de Ven and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous UK TV series. Since 1995 Derek de Lint stars as Dr. Derek Rayne in Poltergeist: the Legacy US TV series.

"I realize that this show won't last forever. I hope to move from here into the feature film market again. Before Poltergeist I was in a number of films, and hopefully by building up an audience through this show I can carry it over to films. This show has given me exposure for many years, and hopefully it will pay off in the end." **

The making of Poltergeist: the Legacy was cancelled by the fourth season. And past May 1999, Derek de Lint together with Robbi Chong has made an episode called Star Crossed of an Emmy- and CableACE Award-winning SCI-FI anthology series Outer Limits, was directed Helen Shaver and a Canadian independent short film called The Artist's Circle, was filmed in 35mm by an Emmy Award-winning director of photography Joel Ransom and was directed, written and edited by Bruce Marchfelder. This project was one of 18,000 entrants from Canada, which was invited in Cannes in this year.

"If I look back at all the work I have done there are the independent movies. Allthough there was no money and no luxury for the actors at all, there was a lot of devotion from everybody in front of the camera and behind. I really like that… I would love to work in an independent movie; it doesn't matter if it is in Europe or in North-America." ***

      Derek de Lint settled down for good in Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada). He has the large house here, his second son Mick is last year at school. The eldest son Jerome is studying the design the first year in college.
      In the beginning of this year Derek de Lint filmed on the British TV in a trilogy of the shorts (1,2,3, Talk to me, Poco, Bad Dreams). The director is Rohan Berry Crickmar, a young film-maker from the East coast of Scotland and Derek de Lint's friend. Also Derek de Lint has become the producer of the films Poco and Bad Dreams.
       Since the beginning of October, 2000 Derek de Lint is filmed in Amsterdam, in new, feature Laurence Malkin's film Soul Assassin. Soul Assassin with a budget of 8 million dollars this is one of the most expensive and ambitious films ever made in The Netherlands. Derek de Lint played as Karl Jorgensen, the head of a multinational financial company and its diabolical spriritual leader.
      Derek de Lint is living in Canada and working in Canada and America, but sometimes he goes back in the Netherlands and takes part in some production like the movie Tom and Thomas, written and directed by Esmee Lammers. In 2002, he played in the Dutch TV mini-series Mevrouw de Minister. Next year he played several roles as a writer Thomas Bruckner and a stage director Gottschalk Kroge in the Dutch theatre in the production Mephisto, a version of the book of Klaus Mann by Paul Binnerts, who directs too.
      Derek de Lint's recent role as Dr. Mandrakis is in an American production When a Stranger Calls, directed by Simon West. He also was busy with the Dutch TV series Gooische Vrouwen as Dokter Rossi and played an important role in the new movie Zwartboek, directed by Paul Verhoeven.


	Many thanks, René van Dam for the information