Derek James may have been born in Winnipeg, but he grew up in Victoria, B.C. and started his acting career at the age of six, first appearing on the Saturday morning show Take Off Again as the role of Ty. Later in life, he graduated from the Canadian College of the Performing Arts just outside of his home town in Oak Bay. After graduation, Derek spent a year touring around the world performing in three Broadway style musicals for Disney. At the age of 19, James moved to Los Angeles to become a member of the band 4NOW, which enjoyed success and toured all over the U.S. thanks to hit singles like “I Can Hardly Breathe” and “I’m Trying.” After the band broke up in 2002, James remained in Los Angeles to continue pursuing his acting career, landing roles on NBC’s American Dreams, WB’s Sabrina, The Teenage Witch and CTV’s Whistler to name a few. He was also the host of HGTV’s Design To Win. Derek James is also known as Derek Baynham.
Features & TV Movies:
VR indicates Direct-to-Video Release
Time Machine: St. Peter – The Rock (TV-2002)
The Sparky Chronicles: The Map (VR-2003)
Touch My Girl (2004)
Is He… (2004)
The Senator’s Son (2006)
Mulligans (2008)
Peas in a Pod (TV-2010)
Darla (2011, short)
Mother Nature: First MILF (VR-2011, short)
Retail (2011, short)
Ad Man (2012, short)
The Bellman (TV-2016)
TV Series – Cast:
Take Off Again (1986)
Design to Win (Host, 2005)
Marriage Under Construction (host, 2007-)
Instant Recall (2010)
Just Kidding (2014-)
TV Series – Guest Appearances:
American Dreams (2002, 2003)
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (2003)
The L Word (2006)
Whistler (2006)
S.O.B.: Socially Offensive Behavior (2007)
Preppy Hippies (2007, 2008)
Rules of the League (2009)
InSayshable (2012)
Parks and Recreation (2012)
The Coppertop Flop Show (2014)
OMG! (2014)
Just Kidding (2014, 2015)
The Amazing Gayl Pile (2016)
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First published as Northernstars.net February 1, 1998
ISSN 2563 4895