Derek Phillips, a renowned film and stage actor, was born on April 18, 1976, in Miami, Florida. He later attended Baylor University, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting.
Upon graduating, Derek relocated to New York and began his professional acting career, simultaneously performing in both television and regional theatre productions. He traversed the country, taking on various roles in numerous plays, including "The Winter's Tale" at Baltimore Center Stage, "Of Mice and Men" at Dallas Theater Center, "The Glass Menagerie" at Virginia Stage Company, and "King o' The Moon" at Capital Repertory Theatre.
Throughout his early career, Derek secured recurring roles on several popular television shows, including "The Guiding Light", "As the World Turns", and "All My Children". However, it was his breakout role as Billy Riggins on the critically acclaimed NBC television series "Friday Night Lights" that catapulted him to fame.
In addition to his acting career, Derek is also an accomplished associate producer, assistant director, and resident actor for the esteemed ensemble-based theatre company Second Thought Theatre. He has had the privilege of performing in several notable productions, including the regional premiere of Eric Bogosian's "Humpty Dumpty", Douglas Post's "Earth and Sky", and the world premiere of Steven Walters' "Pluck the Day".
