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Dierkes was born on February 10, 1905 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Brown University and subsequently went to work as an economist for the United States Department of State. In 1941 he joined the Red Cross and served in the Britain duringWorld War II. There he met director John Huston who recommended that he try Hollywood after the war. Instead, Dierkes went to work for the U.S. Treasury Department which coincidentally sent him to Hollywood to function as technical advisor for the film To the Ends of the Earth (1948). Because of his appearance and very tall frame (6 feet, 6 inches), Dierkes enjoyed a long career as a character actor, often portraying villains or soldiers. In the 1953 film Shane, Dierkes portrays villain Morgan Ryker, who is the last man shot by the title character, Shane, in the final bar room shootout. One of his more memorable scenes is in the 1960 film, The Alamo. Dierkes portrays a Tennessean named Jocko, who is torn between leaving before the attack to care for his blind wife, or staying to support the Texans' cause. Understanding that if Jocko stays to fight she will likely be widowed, Jocko's wife coaxes him to stay and defend the fort, despite her disability. Dierkes died in 1975 of emphesyma and was survived by his wife Cynthia, two sons, and two daughters.
as Jocko Robertson
as Roderick Craven - (archive footage)
as Bill Parker
as Family Member
as Cripple
as Benjamin West / Jacob West
as Preacher (uncredited)
as Roderick Craven
as Cell Block Guard (uncredited)
as Sweeny
as Ranger Bill Larsen (uncredited)
as Chet
as Jocko Robertson
as 'Wild Bill' Monks
as Gabe Hastings
as Society Red
as Deacon
as Alexander McSween
as Ez
as Policeman (uncredited)
as Bartender
as Swanson
as Jacob
as Texas Storekeeper (uncredited)
as Bill Sowers
as Reverend
as Soldier (Uncredited)
as Farmer (uncredited)
as Cross Creek Townsman (uncredited)
as Carson - Horgan Rider
as Freil
as Cletus Ballard
as Bursar
as Swede - the Cook (uncredited)
as Cpl. Fred Deane
as Police Sergeant
as Gruber
as Sheriff Daws
as General Morris
as Morgan Ryker
as Bosun (uncredited)
as Arnie
as Jim Conklin - the Tall Soldier
as Dr. Chapman
as Night Court Judge (uncredited)
as Ross
