Derren Nesbitt facts for kids

Derren Nesbitt (born Derren Michael Horwitz; 19 June 1935) is a British actor. He started his film career in the late 1950s. He also appeared in many British television shows during the 1960s and 1970s. He is well-known for his role as Major von Hapen in the 1968 film Where Eagles Dare.

Derren Nesbitt's Acting Journey

Early TV Roles and Villains

Derren Nesbitt began acting on television in the 1950s. He played many different characters. Some of his early shows included The Adventures of Sir Lancelot and The Adventures of William Tell. At this time, he was sometimes known as Derry Nesbitt.

Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, he often played the bad guy in popular TV series. These shows included Danger Man, The Saint, and Doctor Who. He also appeared in The Prisoner, Gideon's Way, and UFO. In 1969, he took on the role of DCI Jordan in the police drama Special Branch.

Memorable Film Roles

Nesbitt has also acted in several films. These include Victim (1961) and The Informers (1963). He also had important roles in early 1960s films like The Man in the Back Seat and Strongroom. Both of these were directed by Vernon Sewell.

One of his most famous roles was Major von Hapen in Where Eagles Dare (1968). Nesbitt wanted his character to be very realistic. While filming, he asked to meet a former member of the Gestapo. This helped him understand how to play the character and make sure his military uniform was correct. He had a small injury on set during a scene where his character is killed. A special effect meant to show blood exploded too strongly. This caused him to be temporarily unable to see, but he quickly got better.

In 2018, Nesbitt played the main character in a British independent film called Tucked. In this movie, he played a character who performs as a drag queen.

Derren Nesbitt's Family Life

Derren Nesbitt has been married four times and has five children.

In 1961, he married his first wife, the actress Anne Aubrey. They had a daughter the following year. The couple later divorced in 1973.

His third wife was an Australian beauty queen. For a while, he moved to Australia. There, he taught theatre studies at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium of Arts. This was in the city of Lismore. By 2014, he was living in Worthing, West Sussex, with his fourth wife, Miranda.