Thomas (Tom) Schwartz a/k/a Tom Derek

The journey's been an incredible one and I've always followed my heart… Up from the ashes of post-WWII Czechoslovakia, where I was born, my folks and I immigrated to the USA when I was an infant. Operating restaurants in Ohio and Michigan, the family eventually made its way to Miami Beach and the hotel business (The Anchor and The Variety). After Beach High, I earned a Bachelor of Arts at FAU, then a law degree from the University of Miami. I did a stint manufacturing textiles in Chile, South America and when I returned to the States, it was to a global law practice as General Counsel and Member of the Board of Directors of the Miami International Free-Trade Zone.

The creative opportunities of being a working actor became my passion and commitment in mid-life. I began the next leg of the adventure by moving to Los Angeles and started building an acting craft with training that included the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, The Groundlings, Jeff Corey, Howard Fine, Brian Reise and classical studies with Sir John Barton at Oxford University in England.

My mainstream film and TV credits include CRIMINAL MINDS, COLD CASE, TRANSPORTER 2, BECKER, MIAMI VICE and MAKING MR. RIGHT, not to mention all those independent gigs... I've worked with legendary directors Luc Besson, Andy Ackerman, Susan Seidelman and John Nicollela and many others.

An unpredictable blend of charm, menace and humor have helped me to illuminate the human condition with depth and authenticity.