Christopher Atkins Bomann[1] (born February 21, 1961)[2] is an American actor and businessman. He starred in the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon and played Peter Richards on Dallas (1983–1984).
Christopher Atkins | |
|---|---|
 Atkins attending the Bench Warmer Holiday Party at Empire, Hollywood, California on December 5, 2009 | |
| Born | Christopher Atkins Bomann February 21, 1961 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse |
Lyn Barron
(m. 1985; div. 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editChristopher Atkins Bomann was born[2] and raised[3] in Rye, New York. He is the son of Donald Bomann and Bitsy Nebauer, who divorced during his childhood.[4] Atkins was an aspiring baseball player; when his baseball aspirations were derailed by knee problems, he started a modeling career. When he began acting, Atkins dropped the last name Bomann and used his middle name, Atkins, as his last name.[3]
Career
editA friend suggested that Atkins audition for The Blue Lagoon.[2] The film's director, Randal Kleiser, stated that Atkins was a sailing instructor with no acting experience when he was cast in the film.[3] Atkins and co-star Brooke Shields played teenaged cousins who find love while living in an isolated tropical paradise after being marooned as children.[5] Released in 1980, the film grossed over $58 million with a production cost of $4.5 million[6][7][8] but received negative critical responses.[9] Atkins appeared both nude and scantily clad in the film.[5][10][11][4] While Blue Lagoon was controversial due to its nude scenes and sexual content,[12] it nevertheless became a "pop culture phenomenon".[13] Although Atkins was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male for The Blue Lagoon,[14] critical responses to his performance were negative. A TV Guide reviewer wrote that "Atkins looks as if he would be more at home on a surfboard,"[15] and Gary Arnold wrote in The Washington Post that Atkins's performance "evoke[s] modeling sessions and beach-party movies."[16]
In 1982 Atkins posed nude for Playgirl,[4][11] and co-starred with Kristy McNichol in The Pirate Movie (1982), an update of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Pirates of Penzance.[2] His song "How Can I Live Without Her", which peaked at #71 on the Billboard Hot 100, was used in that film. For his performance in the film A Night in Heaven (1983), Atkins won the 1983 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor.[17] For one season (1983–1984), Atkins had a recurring role as camp counselor Peter Richards on Dallas.[2]
In 1999, Atkins appeared in the television sitcom Suddenly Susan, which starred Shields.[3] In 2009, Atkins appeared on VH1's Confessions of a Teen Idol, a reality show featuring former teen idols.[18][19] Atkins was ranked no. 76 on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Teen Stars.[2]
Atkins became a luxury pool builder[18] and co-developed the Christopher Atkins Strike Jacket E.F.L. (Extreme Fishing Lure), "a rubbery slipcovering for traditional baits."[3]
In 2023, Atkins appeared in Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas, where he reunited onscreen with his Dallas costar, Linda Gray.
Personal life
editAtkins married Lyn Barron Weber of Sydney, Australia, on May 25, 1985. They have two children: son Grant Bomann (b. 1985[20]) and daughter Brittney Bomann (b. 1987[21]).[22][23] They divorced in 2007.[24]
In a 2009 interview, Atkins acknowledged his past struggle with alcoholism and stated that he had been sober for 22 years.[24]
Filmography
editFilm and television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Blue Lagoon | Richard Lestrange | Nominated—Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male |
| 1981 | Swan Lake | Prince Siegfried | Voice only, English version |
| 1981 | Child Bride of Short Creek | Isaac King | TV movie |
| 1982 | Aladdin and the Magic Lamp | Aladdin | Voice only, English version |
| 1982 | The Pirate Movie | Frederic | Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor |
| 1983–84 | Dallas | Peter Richards | TV series, 27 episodes (season 7) |
| 1983 | A Night in Heaven | Rick Monroe | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor |
| 1985 | Secret Weapons | Allan Collier | TV movie |
| 1985 | Hotel | Jason Fielding | Episode: "Echoes" |
| 1987 | Beaks: The Movie | Peter | |
| 1987 | Night Rose: Akhbar's Daughter | Bitterman | TV pilot episode |
| 1988 | Mortuary Academy | Max Grimm | |
| 1989 | Listen to Me | Bruce Arlington | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor |
| 1990 | Fatal Charm | Adam Brenner | TV movie |
| 1990 | Shakma | Sam | |
| 1991 | Extralarge: Miami Killer | Blake | TV movie |
| 1992 | Wet and Wild Summer! | Bobby McCain | |
| 1993 | The Adventures of the Black Stallion | Drag Racer | Episode: "Racing in the Streets" |
| 1993 | Dracula Rising | Vlad | Direct-to-video |
| 1993 | Die Watching | Michael Terrence | Direct-to-video |
| 1993 | ¡Dispara! | Spence | |
| 1993 | King's Ransom | Spence | Direct-to-video |
| 1994 | Bandit Goes Country | Johnny Bruce | TV movie |
| 1994 | Trigger Fast | Dusty Fog | |
| 1994 | Guns of Honor | Dusty Fog | TV movie |
| 1994 | Signal One | Martin Bullet | |
| 1995 | Project Shadowchaser III | Snake | TV movie |
| 1995 | Smoke n Lightnin | Lightnin | |
| 1996 | It's My Party | Jack Allen | |
| 1996 | Dead Man's Island | Roger Prescott | TV movie |
| 1996 | Angel Flight Down | Jack Bahr | TV movie |
| 1996 | Silk Stalkings | Chance Reynolds | Episode: "Compulsion" |
| 1997 | High Tide | Raider | Episode: "A Rock and a Hard Place" |
| 1997 | Mutual Needs | Andrew | |
| 1998 | The Fairy King of Ar | — | Writer and producer |
| 1999 | Suddenly Susan | Tony | Episode: "Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut" |
| 1999 | Lima: Breaking the Silence | Jeff | |
| 1999 | Deadly Delusions | Sam Gitlin | |
| 2000 | Malicious Intent | Alfred Russo | |
| 2000 | Stage Ghost | Matthew Bronson | |
| 2001 | Title to Murder | Paul Shaughnessy | |
| 2001 | Dark Realm | Jack Anderson | Episode: "Emma's Boy" |
| 2001 | The Little Unicorn | PC Sid Edwards | Direct-to-video |
| 2001 | True Legends of the West | Theodore Sutherland | |
| 2002 | 13th Child | Ron | Direct-to-video |
| 2002 | Under the Gun | Bill | |
| 2002 | The Stoneman | Kip Hollings | |
| 2002 | Love Don't Come Easy | Clay | |
| 2002 | Tequila Express | David Manning | |
| 2003 | Quigley | Woodward Channing | |
| 2003 | Strike Force | Ringo | |
| 2006 | Caved In: Prehistoric Terror | John Palmer | TV movie |
| 2007 | Payback | Sean Walker | |
| 2007 | Spiritual Warriors | King of Sparta | |
| 2008 | Blind Ambition | Wild Bill | |
| 2008 | 100 Million BC | Erik Reno | Direct-to-video |
| 2008 | Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves | Jacob | |
| 2009 | Forget Me Not | Mr. Channing | |
| 2009 | Confessions of a Teen Idol | Himself | TV reality series, 8 episodes |
| 2010 | Melissa | Ellis | Short film (directed by his daughter) |
| 2010 | Stained Glass Windows | Detective Marshall | |
| 2011 | Sedona | Pierce | |
| 2011 | Family 2.0 | Michael | Short film |
| 2011 | Exodus Fall | Wayne Minor | |
| 2011 | Assassins' Code | Daniel Dodd | |
| 2011 | Hidden | Dian's Husband | |
| 2011 | Harley's Hill | Mr. Miller | Direct-to-video |
| 2012 | Blue Lagoon: The Awakening | Mr. Christiansen | TV movie |
| 2013 | Crazy Kind of Love | Mr. Jeffries | |
| 2013 | Amy | Chris | Also associate producer |
| 2014 | Waiting in the Wings: The Musical | Priest | |
| 2014 | Better Late Than Never | — | Short film (executive producer) |
| 2014 | Guardian Angel | John Robertson | |
| 2014 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Jimmy Turelli | Episode: "Dead Rails" |
| 2015 | A Horse for Summer | Pastor Bob | |
| 2015 | The Sparrows: Nesting | Mike Sparrow | Action On Film International Film Festival – Best Actor |
| 2015 | Kids vs Monsters | Charles | |
| 2015 | A Tennis Shoe in the Street | Lucky / Brandon | |
| 2016 | The Eleventh | Neil | TV series short, 5 episodes |
| 2016 | The Unlikely's | Daniel Jacobsen | |
| 2018 | Gathering of Heroes: Legend of the Seven Swords | Garrik Grayraven | |
| 2018 | The City of Gold | Richard Davenport | |
| 2019 | Defrost: The Virtual Series | George Michael Garrison | TV series short, 11 episodes |
| 2019 | One Remains | Samuel Mahoney | |
| 2020 | Lake of Fire 2020 | Henry Wayne | |
| 2021 | Attraction to Paris | Edward | |
| 2023 | Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas | Pete | Television film |
References
edit- ^ "Atkins, Christopher 1961– | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "Happy Birthday To Rye's Christopher Atkins". Rye Daily Voice. February 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Tauber, Michelle (October 9, 2000). "From the Depths". People.com.
- ^ a b c Wallace, David (July 11, 1983). "Look Out, J.R.—Chris Atkins Is Muscling in on the Action as Dallas Beefs Up Its Cast". People.com.
- ^ a b McMurrin, Kristin (August 11, 1980). "Too Much, Too Young?". People. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "The Blue Lagoon (1980) - Financial Information". The-Numbers.com. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ^ "AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The First 100 Years 1893–1993". AFI.com. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ^ "The Blue Lagoon". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ^ "The Blue Lagoon". Rotten Tomatoes. July 4, 1980. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
- ^ "Christopher Atkins: Poster Child for Gay Rights Movement?". Advocate.com. January 9, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ a b "Chris Atkins". HollywoodShow.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ Bender, Abbey (March 4, 2019). "Sexualized Innocence: Revisiting The Blue Lagoon". www.RogerEbert.com.
- ^ Mackie, Drew (July 1, 2015). "Celebrate The Blue Lagoon's 35th Anniversary with 10 Movie Facts You Should Know". People.com.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 8, 2012). "Denise Richards To Co-Star In 'Blue Lagoon' Reboot, Christopher Atkins To Make Cameo". Deadline.com.
- ^ "The Blue Lagoon Reviews". TV Guide. Red Ventures. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Arnold, Gary. "Depth Defying". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ Fleming, Andrew (November 27, 2014). "Reliving Reckless by Bryan Adams". Vancouver Courier.
- ^ a b Bierly, Mandy (January 2, 2009). "Christopher Atkins: PopWatch 'Teen Idol' Q&A (Part 4 of 4)". EW.com.
- ^ McNamara, Mary (January 6, 2009). "Idol hopes underlie these 'Confessions'". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Christopher Atkins". www.nndb.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "Christopher Atkins". www.nndb.com.
- ^ "Actor Christopher Atkins, wife Lyn Barron, daughter Brittney Bomann and son Grant Bomann". Ron Galella archive. 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
- ^ "Christopher Atkins". nndb.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
- ^ a b Rizzo, Monica (February 16, 2009). "Christopher Atkins second act". People. Retrieved August 23, 2018.