Biography

Born October 5th, 1989 in Keedysville, Maryland, from an early age Cody Derr understood himself to be a vessel for the world's beauty in many forms, both dark and light. Growing up exposed to mid-Atlantic cities -Baltimore, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia - but enjoying a peaceful spirit from the serenity of his roots in Western Maryland, Cody was open to life's possibilities. This openness would allow him to begin performing with great enthusiasm, explore a university education, and launch a professional acting career in New York City by the age of twenty-one.

Cody grew up as an aspiring entertainer, dancing and performing comedic sketches among his classmates from kindergarten to college; but not as "class clown," rather Cody was committed to entertaining and inspiring his childhood audiences. Initially drawn to the rhythmic beauties of music, Cody soon realized his deepest talent lay in the portrayal of human emotion. He was eager to learn from his high school theater courses, before later advancing to college level instruction and acting competition.

The young actor was struck profoundly by one teacher's sage advice to never be satisfied. From that point on he strived for grandeur, setting his sights on the moon, in both a figurative and a literal sense. In a role he considered transformative, allowing him to branch out from High School roles, Cody played Chuck Cranston in the Community Theater's performance of "Footloose" in Hagerstown, Maryland.

In 2008, Cody explored the university experience at Shepherd University, studying under the esteemed Ed Herendeen and an accomplished team of acting coaches. There the developing actor performed as the lead in the show "Dark Play or Stories for Boys," a role that revealed Cody's talent and hunger for method acting. Reactions from the theater department as well as the audiences were strong, and it became apparent that in such a compelling role, Cody Derr was able to inspire and bring truth to the role so brilliantly written by Carlos Murillo.

In a challenging and ambitious decision, Cody resigned from the university to pursue acting professionally. It became clear that modeling presented a useful path toward acting, media, and the entertainment business at large. Having participated in a national modeling and acting competition hosted in New York City during the summer of 2010, Cody was encouraged by very favorable reactions and feedback, and he enjoyed honors in more than one category. Aware of the risks, aware of his potential, and committed to his future, three short weeks after the competition, Cody moved to New York City.

In New York, Cody sought work aggressively and landed his first union acting experience in a film directed by David Chase. Cody briskly obtained five Screen Actors Guild vouchers within 2 weeks, surprising his talent representative as well as his new friends and acting peers in the Big Apple.

Following a year in New York City, having gained even greater independence and comfort as a young professional, fueling his ambition, and becoming eligible for union roles, Cody Derr is now preparing himself for the next step in his dream of reaching millions through his desire to entertain and inspire others through his ambitions for stage, television, and film: he is ready for Los Angeles. As he prepares for his move, he accepts that the possibilities are endlessly challenging, endlessly exciting, and nothing short of necessary.

- IMDb mini biography by: James G. Wolfensberger