Derek Jarman

Born 31 January 1942
Northwood, Middlesex, England
Died 19 February 1994 (aged 52)
St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, England
Resting place St Clement Churchyard, Old Romney, Kent
Education Canford School, Dorset
Alma mater King's College London
Slade School of Fine Art (UCL)
Occupations
Film directorgay rights activistgardenerset designer

Years active 1970–1994
Notable work Sebastiane (1976)
Jubilee (1977)
The Tempest (1979)
Caravaggio (1986)
The Last of England (1988)
War Requiem (1989)
Edward II (1991)
Wittgenstein (1993)
Blue (1993)
Style New Queer Cinema
Partner(s) Keith Collins
(1987–1994; his death)

Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman: 13  (31 January 1942 – 19 February 1994) was an English artist, film maker, stage designer, writer, gardener, and gay rights activist, regarded as one of the most influential figures associated with the new queer cinema. Trained originally as a painter, he moved into stage and production design in the late 1960s, including work on Ken Russell's controversial historical 1971 film The Devils, before turning to filmmaking as a director.

Jarman made his directorial debut with Sebastiane (1976), a Latin-language film depicting the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian through overt homoerotic imagery. The film established many of the characteristics of his work: an openly queer perspective, historical and literary source material treated anachronistically, and a willingness to court controversy. He went on to direct a body of unconventional films including the punk-inflected Jubilee (1978), the stylised biographical drama Caravaggio (1986), and the politically charged adaptation Edward II (1991).