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Christopher Atkins

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For other people named Chris Atkins, see Chris Atkins (disambiguation).

Christopher Atkins
Atkins attending the Bench Warmer Holiday Party at Empire, Hollywood, California on December 5, 2009
Born
Christopher Atkins Bomann

(1961-02-21) February 21, 1961 (age 63)
Rye, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1979–present
Spouse
Lyn Barron
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 2007)​
Children2

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).

Early life

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Christopher 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

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Atkins in 1981

A 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

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Atkins and his daughter, Brittney, on the red carpet at the 62nd Annual Mother Goose Parade in San Diego County, 2008

Atkins 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

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Film and television

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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

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  1. ^ "Atkins, Christopher 1961– | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Happy Birthday To Rye's Christopher Atkins". Rye Daily Voice. February 21, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e Tauber, Michelle (October 9, 2000). "From the Depths". People.com.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b McMurrin, Kristin (August 11, 1980). "Too Much, Too Young?". People. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  6. ^ "The Blue Lagoon (1980) - Financial Information". The-Numbers.com. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  7. ^ "AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The First 100 Years 1893–1993". AFI.com. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Blue Lagoon". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  9. ^ "The Blue Lagoon". Rotten Tomatoes. July 4, 1980. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  10. ^ "Christopher Atkins: Poster Child for Gay Rights Movement?". Advocate.com. January 9, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Chris Atkins". HollywoodShow.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  12. ^ Bender, Abbey (March 4, 2019). "Sexualized Innocence: Revisiting The Blue Lagoon". www.RogerEbert.com.
  13. ^ Mackie, Drew (July 1, 2015). "Celebrate The Blue Lagoon's 35th Anniversary with 10 Movie Facts You Should Know". People.com.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 8, 2012). "Denise Richards To Co-Star In 'Blue Lagoon' Reboot, Christopher Atkins To Make Cameo". Deadline Hollywood.
  15. ^ "The Blue Lagoon Reviews". TV Guide. Red Ventures. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  16. ^ Arnold, Gary. "Depth Defying". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  17. ^ Fleming, Andrew (November 27, 2014). "Reliving Reckless by Bryan Adams". Vancouver Courier.
  18. ^ a b Bierly, Mandy (January 2, 2009). "Christopher Atkins: PopWatch 'Teen Idol' Q&A (Part 4 of 4)". EW.com.
  19. ^ McNamara, Mary (January 6, 2009). "Idol hopes underlie these 'Confessions'". The Boston Globe.
  20. ^ "Christopher Atkins". www.nndb.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  21. ^ "Christopher Atkins". www.nndb.com.
  22. ^ "Actor Christopher Atkins, wife Lyn Barron, daughter Brittney Bomann and son Grant Bomann". Ron Galella archive. 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  23. ^ "Christopher Atkins". nndb.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  24. ^ a b Rizzo, Monica (February 16, 2009). "Christopher Atkins second act". People. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
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