Derek Mears was born on November 29, 1972, and in 2025 he will be 53 years old. Mears has a strong name in the entertainment business, especially in the horror and action genres, for his work as an actor and stuntman. People all over the world knew him for famous parts like Jason Voorhees in the 2009 remake of “Friday the 13th.” At this point, Derek Mears net worth is thought to be around $3.5 million, which he has made through acting, stunt work, and appearances on TV and in movies.
Even though Mears has a job in show business, he keeps a lot of his personal life private and continues to work on a wide range of projects in Hollywood. From 2008 to 2012, Derek Mears was married to actress Jennifer Flack. The two people did not have any kids together. Derek Mears is single right now and lives in New York by himself.
Social Profiles
Quick Bio
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Derek Mears |
| Date of Birth | April 29, 1972 |
| Age (in 2025) | 53 |
| Birthplace | Bakersfield, California, USA |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Occupation | Actor, Stuntman, Film Producer |
| Known For | Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th (2009), roles in horror and sci-fi films |
| Marital Status | Previously married to Jennifer Flack (divorced) |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | Approximately $3.5 million |
Who is Derek Mears? (Biography & Early Life)
He is an American who is known for action movies and stunt work. Growing up in Bakersfield, Mears went to Highland High School and joined an improv theater group called ComedySportz, which is where he found his love for performing. In the beginning, his goal was to make a living doing something he loved, which is what led him to work in show business. As an actor, Mears made a name for himself as a versatile performer who was often cast in parts that were hard on the body.
Derek Mears Net Worth in 2025
Derek Mears’ net worth is thought to be around $3.5 million as of 2025. He mostly makes money from acting jobs, stunt shows, fan convention visits, and royalties from projects he has worked on in the past. Mears is a respected figure in the entertainment business compared to other well-known Dereks, like Derek Holland (professional athlete), Derek Cianfrance (director), Derek Jeter (former baseball star), and Derek Duke (composer). His income is affected by lucrative acting jobs, work coordinating stunts, advertising, and possible investments.
| Year | Estimated Net Worth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Initial career stage | Beginning work as stuntman and actor |
| 2009 | Moderate growth | Boost from playing Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th |
| 2013 | Growing | Roles in films like Hatchet III and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters |
| 2023 | $3.5 million | Estimated net worth from acting and stunt work |
| 2025 | $3.5 million | Current estimated net worth consistent with 2023 |
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Business Ventures and Income Sources
- Acting Roles: Derek Mears makes most of his money by acting in movies and TV shows, mostly horror and action movies and shows. He is best known for playing Jason Voorhees in “Friday the 13th” (2009) and other famous characters in movies and TV shows like “Swamp Thing” and “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.”
- Stunt Work: As a professional stuntman, Mears gets paid to do physical and stunt scenes in different movies, which makes up a big part of his income.
- As a young artist, Mears worked in prosthetics and creature effects, working with the famous makeup artist Rick Baker, which opened up more job possibilities for him in the field.
- Improv Comedy: Mears has been doing professional improv comedy since he was a teenager. He sometimes brings his comedic skills to parts and performances, which has led to a wide range of acting jobs.
- Collaborations and Endorsements: Derek Mears also works with other people on creative projects and gets paid for them. This is in addition to his acting and physical work.
Personal Life
- Marital Status and Children
Jennifer Flack was Derek Mears’ wife from 2008 to 2012. During their marriage, they did not have any children. At the moment, Mears is not married and keeps his personal life pretty quiet, not telling the public about a new partner or children. - Siblings
It is said that Derek Mears is the younger of two children. Specific information about his siblings, like their names or jobs, is not widely known. This is because he likes to keep family issues private. - Early Life and Upbringing
Derek Mears was born on April 29, 1972, in Bakersfield, California. He went to high school at Highland High School in his city. During high school, he became really interested in improv comedy and joined a group called ComedySportz that did regular tours. He became interested in acting and action work because of this early experience with performance. - Health and Physical Fitness
Mears had a serious case of alopecia, an autoimmune disease that makes people lose a lot of hair. CrossFit and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training, such as Karate, Taekwondo, Krav Maga, Kickboxing, and Judo, keep him in great shape. This helps him handle the physically hard jobs he has in the entertainment business. - Hobbies and Interests
Aside from his job, Mears acts regularly with an improv comedy group in Los Angeles called The Resistance. He likes talking to fans at conventions and values the human connections that his work helps to make. He is also known to have cats and live with several of them.
Career Journey
Early Career (1990s to Early 2000s)
Derek Mears got his start in show business with small parts on TV shows like “ER” and “Saved by the Bell: The New Class” in the 1990s. He was in dramas and thriller movies, like “The Demolitionist” (1995), and had small parts on TV shows like “Nash Bridges,” “The Shield,” and “CSI: Miami.” Besides Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, he was in the 2002 movie “Men in Black II” for the whole cast.
Rise Through Stunt Work and Supporting Roles (Early 2000s to Late 2000s)
At the beginning of the 2000s, Mears did action work and small parts in big movies. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies “The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) and “Dead Man’s Chest” (2006) had him do stunts. He did action work for the movie “Blades of Glory” and TV shows like “Angel” and “Bones.” He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Stunt Ensemble for his work in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008).
Breakthrough and Leading Roles (2009 onward)
Mears’ big break came in 2009, when he played Jason Voorhees in the reboot of the “Friday the 13th” franchise. This part made him a famous horror character. He was nominated for an MTV Award for Best Villain because of how big he was and how he was portrayed. After this, he played the lead role in “Predators” (2010) as a Predator warrior, which made him even more famous in action and sci-fi movies.
Continuing Career and Versatility (2010s to Early 2020s)
Mears played many parts in movies in the 2010s, such as “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” (2013), “Hatchet III” (2013), “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” (2013), and “Alita: Battle Angel” (2019). Among other TV shows, he was a guest star on “Community,” “Grimm,” “Twin Peaks,” “Sleepy Hollow,” and Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” He played the lead in the 2019 show “Swamp Thing” and will do so again in “Legends of Tomorrow” (2020).
Recent Work and Ongoing Projects (2020 to 2025)
For example, Mears has parts in “The Flash” and “The Guardians of Justice.” He is still working on movies and TV shows. He is still under contract with big production companies for possible future “Friday the 13th” movies and other projects. Mears does more than just act. He also goes to conventions and talks to fans, staying active in the genres he specializes in.
Physical Measurements
- Height: 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters)
- Weight: Approximately 71 kg (156 lbs)
- Body Type: Slim
- Hair Color: Bald (due to alopecia)
- Eye Color: Gray
Struggles with Mental Health, Addiction & Homelessness
Mental Health and Alopecia
Derek Mears has been very open about how hard it was for him to deal with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss. As a child, this had a big effect on how he felt about himself. He felt different and lacked confidence because of this condition, especially when he was a child and teen. Over time, improv comedy helped him feel better about himself and find his creative style. This made him stronger mentally and emotionally.
Challenges in Acting Roles and Emotional Impact
As an actor, Mears has talked about how hard it is for him to deal with his emotions when playing complicated and powerful characters like Swamp Thing. He has talked about the emotional upheaval and psychological exploration that were needed for these shows, which sometimes meant facing deep personal feelings and experiences that he used as starting points for his art. This process could cause mental stress and time to think about oneself.
Support and Overcoming Adversity
Even though Derek Mears has had these personal and work problems, he has kept a positive attitude and kept going. He says that improv comedy, accepting himself, and being able to enjoy what makes him special helped him get over problems with self-image and acceptance. His story shows how strong people can be when they are dealing with emotional problems without turning to drugs or homelessness and instead focused on growth and creative expression.
Current Status
Derek Mears is still working as an actor and stuntman in 2025. He is well-known for his parts in horror and sci-fi movies. In recent months, he has had parts in Netflix shows like “First Kill,” a story about a group of teens who become vampires, and “The Guardians of Justice,” an animated superhero show. He also just finished shooting the action movie “Lion-Girl.” The part of Jason Voorhees he played in the 2009 remake of “Friday the 13th” made Mears famous in the horror community, and he is contracted to play the role again in future sequels or related projects.
Mears stays in shape by doing CrossFit and martial arts. This is important for his physically demanding stunt work and acting parts. He actively attends fan conventions and likes interacting with his fans, making sure that he balances his work obligations with his fan interactions. His career has been going strong for decades, with movies like “Predators,” “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters,” and the TV show “Swamp Thing” among his many famous works.
Public Perception & Media Coverage
Positive Recognition in Genre Films
Derek Mears is well-known and liked for his parts in scary and science fiction movies, especially the famous role he played as Jason Voorhees in the 2009 reboot of “Friday the 13th.” Both fans and reviewers praise his physicality and how hard he works to bring these characters to life. Because of his role, he was nominated for Best Villain at the MTV Movie Awards, which confirmed his reputation in the horror community. The media has said that Mears is one of the tallest and most intimidating actors who could play Jason, which adds to his draw.
Respect in the Industry for Stunt Work and Acting
According to the media, Mears is very good at both action work and acting. He has done a lot of work in hit movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Predators,” and “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.” Peers and filmmakers value him for being able to do difficult stunts and give captivating acting performances at the same time. In interviews, he is shown to be humble, easy to talk to, and deeply committed to his work. He often talks about how important it is to work together and be dedicated on set.
Strong Fanbase and Convention Presence
Mears keeps up a strong fan base by interacting with them often at horror events, fan expos, and on social media. Fans like how friendly he is and how ready he is to share behind-the-scenes stories and insights from his long career. This kind of active participation helps maintain a good public image and staying relevant in genre groups.
Media Coverage of Personal Life
Most of the time, the media doesn’t pry into Mears’ personal or family life. People are still more interested in his work accomplishments than in his personal problems. Because he was honest about his alopecia and the mental problems it caused, he was portrayed in a positive light as an inspiration who overcame hardship.
FAQs
What is Derek Mears’s full name?
Derek Mears.
Who is Derek Mears married to?
He is not married at the moment.
What is Derek Mears famous for?
Getting to play Jason Voorhees in “Friday the 13th” and doing a lot of stunt work.
How much does Derek Mears make per movie?
Different sources give different numbers, but his $3.5 million net worth comes from acting fees, coordinating stunts, and other performance jobs.
Conclusion
Derek Mears has built a successful and varied career as both an actor and a stuntman. His role as Jason Voorhees is what made him famous. In 2025, his net worth was expected to be $3.5 million. He makes money in many areas of the entertainment business, such as acting, stunt work, appearances, and endorsements. Compared to other Derek-named actors, Mears is doing well financially and professionally, and the future looks bright for him in Hollywood.
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