Derek Tisdelle is a Canadian film producer, investor, and project manager. He has been married to Heartland actress Michelle Morgan since June 30, 2012. He has produced two short films and manages investments in real estate and private equity. The couple has three children and maintains one of the most private lifestyles in Canadian entertainment.
Table Of Content
Derek has never publicly commented on his personal life. What follows is compiled from Michelle Morgan’s interviews, film festival records, and entertainment industry sources.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Derek Tisdelle |
| Date of Birth | May 13 (year not publicly confirmed) |
| Estimated Age (2026) | Early-to-mid 40s |
| Profession | Film Producer, Investor, Project Manager |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Spouse | Michelle Morgan (married June 30, 2012) |
| Children | Three: Mara Carmen, Noah Santiago, Celeste |
| Estimated Net Worth | $500,000 – $2 million (unverified) |
| Social Media | None |
Early Life
Derek Tisdelle was born on May 13 in Canada. The exact year has never been publicly confirmed. Details about his childhood, parents, and siblings are not available — a result of his consistent choice to keep his personal history out of public view.
He grew up in Canada and developed an interest in storytelling and film, interests that shaped his later career in production and investment.
Education
Derek’s specific educational background has not been publicly confirmed. Some online sources claim he studied Theatre and Classical Literature at the University of Toronto, but this remains unverified. His career shows a strong working knowledge of film production, financial management, and creative development.
Career
Short Film Production
Derek has produced two publicly known short films, both directed by his wife Michelle Morgan:
| Year | Title | Role | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Mi Madre, My Father | Producer | Featured Arrow star Stephen Amell. Selected by Telefilm Canada for the “Not Short On Talent Corner” at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018. Also screened at Hollyshorts, the Brooklyn Women’s Film Festival, and the Vancouver Short Film Festival. |
| 2019 | Save Yourself | Producer | A romantic comedy set on the beaches of Tofino, British Columbia. Screened at multiple film festivals. |
Both films reflect a preference for character-driven storytelling over commercial projects. The Cannes selection for Mi Madre, My Father is a notable credential — Telefilm Canada’s “Not Short On Talent Corner” highlights the best of Canadian short filmmaking to international buyers and festival programmers.
Medano Films
In 2018, Michelle Morgan founded Medano Films as a vehicle for her directorial work. Derek’s exact role within the company has not been publicly disclosed, but his production credits on both of Michelle’s short films suggest active involvement in the company’s creative output.
Investments and Business
Beyond filmmaking, Derek works as an investor and project manager. His reported interests include:
- Real estate partnerships in Alberta and British Columbia
- Private equity funds (specific holdings unverified)
- Business consulting and project management
This diversified approach gives him financial stability outside the entertainment industry’s volatility.
Derek and Michelle Morgan’s Relationship
How They Met
Derek and Michelle met at a supermarket in Alberta. Michelle has described the meeting in interviews as an everyday, unremarkable encounter that grew into a relationship and eventually marriage.
Timeline
| ~2009–2010 | Met at a supermarket in Alberta |
| April 1, 2011 | First child, Mara Carmen, born |
| June 30, 2012 | Married in a private ceremony |
| September 30, 2013 | Second child, Noah Santiago, born |
| 2018 | Michelle founded Medano Films |
| May 2018 | Mi Madre, My Father selected for Cannes Film Festival |
| 2020 | Michelle selected for Women in the Director’s Chair program to develop feature film The Plains |
| July 2022 | Third child, Celeste, born |
| 2024 | Michelle starred in Roku Original Jingle Bell Love with Joey McIntyre |
Privacy
Maintaining privacy while married to a television star requires active effort. Derek does not appear on social media, does not attend public events, and has never given a public interview. Michelle, by contrast, maintains active social media accounts and engages with the Heartland fan community. This contrast appears intentional — it creates a boundary between Michelle’s public career and their family’s private life.
In one August 2022 Instagram post, Michelle shared candid details about life after their third child’s birth: sleepless nights, the pull between career and family, and the challenge of showing up for everyone. The post was honest about the difficulty of new parenthood — but Derek was mentioned only in passing, consistent with how the couple handles his public presence.
Children
- Mara Carmen — born April 1, 2011 (age 14 in 2025)
- Noah Santiago — born September 30, 2013 (age 11 in 2025)
- Celeste — born July 2022 (age 3 in 2025)
The family lives in Canada. The exact location is kept private.
What is Derek’s Net Worth?
Derek’s net worth is estimated between $500,000 and $2 million as of 2025. These figures are speculative — he has never disclosed his earnings, and no financial publication has verified the numbers.
| Derek Tisdelle | Michelle Morgan | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Career | Film Producer / Investor | Actress / Director |
| Estimated Net Worth | $500K – $2M | ~$3 million |
| Primary Income | Production + Investments | Heartland (18+ seasons on CBC) |
Michelle Morgan’s estimated net worth of $3 million comes primarily from Heartland, which has been on air since 2007 and is the longest-running one-hour scripted drama in Canadian television history.
Derek Tisdelle in the Canadian Film Industry
Derek’s career sits within a specific part of Canada’s entertainment landscape:
- Short film funding: Canadian short films are supported by public bodies like Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, and provincial arts councils. Producers like Derek can create work without relying solely on commercial returns. Budgets for Canadian shorts typically range from CAD $50,000 to $500,000.
- Alberta’s production economy: Heartland has filmed in Alberta since 2007, creating a local production ecosystem that supports crew, vendors, and adjacent businesses. This environment has given both Michelle and Derek a professional base outside Toronto and Vancouver.
- The producer’s role in short film: A short film producer handles financing, logistics, scheduling, festival submissions, and distribution strategy. It is hands-on work built on relationships and resourcefulness rather than public recognition.
Michelle Morgan: Context for Derek’s Career
Understanding Michelle’s career provides context for Derek’s professional choices. Michelle was born on July 16, 1981, in Calgary, Alberta. She studied Theatre and Classical Literature at the University of Toronto before pursuing acting. She has played Lou Fleming on Heartland since 2007.
Beyond Heartland, Michelle has built a growing directorial career:
- Directed episodes of Hudson, a CBC digital series and Heartland spinoff (2019)
- Selected for the Women in the Director’s Chair, Story & Leadership Program (2020) to develop a feature film titled The Plains, described as a post-apocalyptic western
- Starred in the Roku Original Jingle Bell Love (2024) with Joey McIntyre
- Guest starred on CBS’s Tracker (2024), starring Justin Hartley
Michelle is also an advocate for women’s rights and has volunteered at women’s shelters across Canada for over 15 years, serving as ambassador for the Brenda Strafford Centre’s “I Am Courage” campaign and Homefront’s “My Homefront” campaign.
Derek’s production work has directly supported this expanding career — both short films he produced were directed by Michelle and served as stepping stones in her transition from actress to filmmaker.
Interesting Facts
- Birthday unknown: Derek was born on May 13, but the year has never been confirmed publicly.
- Supermarket meeting: He and Michelle met by chance at a grocery store in Alberta.
- No social media: Derek has no presence on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, or any public platform.
- Airplane builder: According to fan accounts shared on social media, Derek has built an airplane, and Michelle flies with him. This has not been confirmed by either Derek or Michelle directly.
- Cannes connection: His first production credit, Mi Madre, My Father, was selected by Telefilm Canada for screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018.
- Stephen Amell collaboration: He produced a short film featuring Arrow star Stephen Amell in 2017.
FAQs
Who is Derek Tisdelle?
Derek Tisdelle is a Canadian film producer, investor, and project manager. He is married to Heartland actress Michelle Morgan. He has produced two short films and manages investments in real estate and private equity.
How did Derek Tisdelle and Michelle Morgan meet?
They met at a supermarket in Alberta, Canada. Michelle has described the meeting in interviews as an ordinary encounter that developed into a relationship.
When did they get married?
June 30, 2012, in a private ceremony.
How many children do they have?
Three: Mara Carmen (born April 1, 2011), Noah Santiago (born September 30, 2013), and Celeste (born July 2022).
What is Derek Tisdelle’s net worth?
Estimated between $500,000 and $2 million as of 2025, though this is unverified. His income comes from film production, real estate partnerships, and private equity investments.
Is Derek Tisdelle on social media?
No. He has no public presence on any social media platform.
Is Michelle Morgan still married to Derek Tisdelle?
Yes. As of 2025, there is no public information suggesting otherwise.
What films has Derek Tisdelle produced?
Mi Madre, My Father (2017), which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s “Not Short On Talent Corner” in 2018, and Save Yourself (2019), a romantic comedy set in Tofino, British Columbia. Both were directed by Michelle Morgan.
Did Derek Tisdelle build an airplane?
Fan accounts on social media mention that Derek built an airplane, but neither Derek nor Michelle has publicly confirmed this. It remains an unverified detail.
Conclusion
Derek Tisdelle has built a career in Canadian independent film production and investment while staying almost entirely out of public view. His production credits — including a Cannes-selected short film — show meaningful creative work, not just proximity to a famous spouse.
His support for Michelle Morgan’s transition from actress to director, through Medano Films and hands-on production work, has been a consistent thread across their partnership. Combined with his reported investment activities in real estate and private equity, Derek has built financial stability on his own terms.
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