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'==Life and career== Mears was born in [[Bakersfield, California]]. He performed improv comedy at [[ComedySportz]] in Bakersfield. He graduated from Highland High School in Bakersfield in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/690078.html |title=Herb Benham: Local actor plays lead role in new "Friday the 13th" |publisher=The Bakersfield Californian |date=2009-02-12 |accessdate=2009-02-13 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214124449/http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/690078.html |archivedate=February 14, 2009 }}</ref> Mears has numerous credits both as a stuntman and as an actor. He had minor roles in ''[[The Tick (1994 series)|The Tick]]'', ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]'', ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'', ''[[Nash Bridges]]'', ''[[Men in Black II]]'', ''[[The Shield]]'', ''[[CSI: NY]]'', ''[[My Name Is Earl]]'', ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005 film)#Television pilot|Mr. & Mrs Smith]]'', ''[[CSI: Miami]]'', [[Community (TV series)|''Community'']]'','' and ''[[The Hills Have Eyes 2]]''. His stunt credits include the films ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]'', ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'', ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]'' and ''[[Blades of Glory]]'', and TV series such as ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'' and ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]''. Mears got his breakthrough lead role in the new ''[[Friday the 13th (2009 film)|Friday the 13th]]'' film. He was recommended to the producers, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form of Platinum Dunes, by make-up and special effects guru Scott Stoddard, who created the new look for Mears' character, [[Jason Voorhees]]. Due to Mears' height at {{convert|6|ft|5.5|in|m|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} he is one of the tallest actors who ever portrayed Jason, beside [[Ken Kirzinger]], who stands at a similar height to Mears. He was nominated for an [[MTV Movie Awards|MTV Movie Award]] in the category for [[MTV Movie Award for Best Villain|Best Villain]] for his portrayal of Voorhees, but lost to [[Heath Ledger]] as [[Joker (comics)|the Joker]] in ''[[The Dark Knight (film)|The Dark Knight]]''. Mears did a lot of research on child development to flesh out the role of Camp Crystal Lake's notorious resident [[serial killer]]: {{cquote|In the script, Jason watches [[Pamela Voorhees|his mother]] die in front of him. So I did research on, when you're that age how do your cognitive processes happen? How is the child supposed to be developing? I found out that at that age you're starting to be integrating into society, whether it's through group sports or group activities so that you find out you're not alone. I discovered that he missed that aspect. He was already an outcast from society for looking different and being disfigured, and his only connection to love and reality is his mother.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Friday+the+13th%3A+Derek+Mears/|title=Friday the 13th: Derek Mears|publisher=[[SuicideGirls.com]]|date=13 February 2009|accessdate=2009-02-13}}</ref>}} He is contracted to return for either another ''Friday the 13th'' sequel or another film by [[Platinum Dunes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/platinumdunes/entry.php?id=16 |title=Reflecting back on a killer weekend, can you say sequel? |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116183731/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/platinumdunes/entry.php?id=16 |archivedate=2011-11-16 |df= }}</ref> If Mears reprises his role as Jason, he will be only the second person to portray the character more than once, next to [[Kane Hodder]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33830/date-set-sequel-friday-13th-remake|title=Date Set for Sequel to Friday the 13th Remake}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/9-film-news/4358-derek-mears-talks-friday-the-13th-part-2-status.html |title=Derek Mears talks FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2 status |publisher=Fangoria |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021164819/http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/9-film-news/4358-derek-mears-talks-friday-the-13th-part-2-status.html |archivedate=2009-10-21 |df= }}</ref> He portrayed a [[Predator (alien)|Classic Predator]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35521/nimrod-antals-predators-identified|title=Nimrod Antal's Predators Identified}}</ref> in the 2010 science-fiction horror film ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== *{{IMDb name|575216}} *[http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Friday+the+13th%3A+Derek+Mears/ Interview with Derek Mears at SuicideGirls.com] *[http://www.fearnet.com/news/b15794_exclusive_derek_mears_talks_friday_13th.html FEARnet Interview with Derek Mears] {{s-start}} {{succession box | before = [[Ken Kirzinger]] | title = Actors portraying [[Jason Voorhees]] | years = [[Friday the 13th (2009 film)|2009]] | after = [[Kane Hodder]]}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mears, Derek}} [[Category:1972 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American male film actors]] [[Category:American stunt performers]] [[Category:American male television actors]] [[Category:Male actors from Bakersfield, California]] [[Category:20th-century American male actors]] [[Category:21st-century American male actors]]'