Who was Derek Acorah? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In January

Also Known As: Derek Francis Johnson

Died At Age: 69

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Gwen Johnson (m. 1995), Joan Hughes (m. 1972 - div. 1982)

father: Frederick Johnson

mother: Elizabeth Courtney

Born Country: England

Actors Writers

Died on: January 3, 2020

place of death: Scarisbrick, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Cause of Death: Pneumonia

City: Lancashire, England

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Childhood & Early Life

Derek Acorah was born Derek Francis Johnson, on January 27, 1950, in Bootle, Lancashire, England, to Frederick Johnson and Elizabeth Courtney. He spent his formative years in Scarisbrick near Southport, in North West England.

Acorah went to a secondary school at Warwick Bolam. During his school years, he was an avid football player. He initially played for the 'Bootle Boys' and then for ‘Wrexham's academy. He was also drafted to the Liverpool team.

He had his first psychic experience at the age of 6. Acorah, apparently, saw the spirit of his dead grandfather in his grandmother's house in Liverpool. He then shared the experience with his grandmother, who herself was a psychic medium. She realized the extraordinary gift that Acorah was blessed with and inspired him to become a medium for spirits.

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His Football Career

In his initial football career, Acorah did not play for the first team. He briefly served as a reserve for his hometown club before being released.

He then played in ‘Wrexham’ for about a season and briefly for ‘Glentoran’ and ‘Stockport County.’

The player's union in Manchester offered Acorah a chance to play in Australia. He accepted the offer and moved to the country, along with his wife and his new-born son.

Acorah played for 'USC Lion' in the 'South Australian State League.' Unfortunately, his brief football career ended due to a leg injury.

Following this, he decided to return to England to make his homesick wife feel better. However, they separated soon after. Acorah then moved back to his hometown, where he began a career as a psychic.

His Psychic Experiences

Acorah always knew that he was gifted to know about things that others did not. While pursuing his football career, he would sometimes pass on messages to his colleagues and fellow players. However, this did not sit well with people back then, especially in the football scene.

Additionally, Acorah had experiences of premonitions. He once told football player Emlyn Hughes to be careful with his new car. He also claimed that he had spoken to the spirit of football player and manager Bill Shankly.

In May 2012, Acorah claimed that a "spirit guide" had delivered a psychic message to him from Madeleine McCann, who had mysteriously disappeared on the evening of May 3, 2007. He revealed that Madeleine had conveyed that she had died some time ago but would soon be reincarnated.

The confession triggered a widespread media outrage, and Acorah had to apologize to McCann's parents through the same newspaper.

Family, Personal Life & Death

Acorah was initially married to Joan Hughes, from 1972 to 1982. The couple had a son. The marriage ended in a legal separation. He married Barbara Keeton in 1985. This marriage, too, ended in a divorce.

He was married to Gwen Johnson from March 1995 until his death.

In 2003, Acorah and Gwen joined the 'Patron of Pathfinder Dogs,' a charity that trains German Shepherd dogs to become guides for blind people. He helped the charity to raise funds.

In March 2014, he was booked for driving without due care and attention and not providing a breath sample after a car crash. He received a 28-month ban from driving and had to pay a fine of £1,000.

Acorah died on January 4, 2020, in Scarisbrick, Southport. His wife later confirmed that he was initially hospitalized for his short-term pneumonia, which had then led to sepsis and had caused his death.

Gwen also stated that while Acorah was on his death bed, a couple had sent him messages to ask about his status. He had informed his fans about his illness through a 'Facebook' post.

Derek Acorah Biography