Derrick Williams

Derrick T. Williams acting career began in (1990) while attending Marla Gibbs Crossroads Arts Academy and Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. He was introduced to the (late) John Singleton by the (late) Whitman Mayo (Grady on Sanford & Son) where he was able to work as a photo double for Cuba Gooding Jr. in the film "Boyz In The Hood" and months later Whitman Mayo introduced him to another director named Carl Franklin where months latter he was cast as "Darren" in the critically acclaimed film "One False Move." Derrick wanting to do more than just movies went to Off Broadway Theatre on the production end with the creator of the modern gospel plays "Michael Matthews" where he worked his way from props to stage manager by the age of 22 becoming one of 5 of the youngest stage managers in the U.S. It was during this time of touring with a multi-million dollar touring troop that Derrick was writing screenplays in his spare time and understanding what it would take to become a successful film and TV director, he then decided to join the military "my father is a retired USMC Master Gunnery Sgt. and it was the discipline he and my mother instilled in my sister and I when we were kids, I knew that I would need the leadership experience if I am to be effective in leading others as a director as well as a leading myself in my acting career" in (1997 - 2002) Derrick joined the U.S. Navy (Active Duty) where he was a Military Police stationed at both Guantanamo Bay Cuba and later Sigonella, Sicily where he served during 9/11. 2 years after being honorably discharged from the Navy he then joined the U.S. Army (Active Duty in 2004 -2009) where he served as an infantryman with the 4th Brigade 2/30th Infantry 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Polk, La. where he was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. After being honorably discharged from the Army he then joined the US Air Force (Reserve 2009 - 2015) where he served with the 610 Security Forces (Military Police) out of Fort Worth, TX. In (2011) during his time in the reserves he received his A.A. Degree in Motion Picture Production from KD College Conservatory of Film and Dramatic Arts (KD Studios) in Dallas, TX and a Certificate in Digital Image Management from the Art Institute of Fort Worth, TX. He has directed and acted in numerous short films and was an Associate Producer on the independent film "Tribaleros." (2019) Derrick is currently a student at UCLA Extension working towards his certificate in Directing where he also continues to act in short films, features and is looking forward to guest roles on TV.