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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.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Lyn Barron ​ ​(m. 1985; div. 2007)​
Children	2

Christopher Atkins Bomann (born February 21, 1961) 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

Christopher Atkins Bomann was born and raised in Rye, New York. He is the son of Donald Bomann and Bitsy Nebauer, who divorced during his childhood. 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.

Career

A friend suggested that Atkins audition for The Blue Lagoon. The film's director, Randal Kleiser, stated that Atkins was a sailing instructor with no acting experience when he was cast in the film. Atkins and co-star Brooke Shields played teenaged cousins who find love while living in an isolated tropical paradise after being marooned as children. Released in 1980, the film grossed over $58 million with a production cost of $4.5 million but received negative critical responses. Atkins appeared both nude and scantily clad in the film. While Blue Lagoon was controversial due to its nude scenes and sexual content, it nevertheless became a "pop culture phenomenon". Although Atkins was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male for The Blue Lagoon, 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," and Gary Arnold wrote in The Washington Post that Atkins's performance "evoke modeling sessions and beach-party movies."

In 1982 Atkins posed nude for Playgirl, and co-starred with Kristy McNichol in The Pirate Movie (1982), an update of Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Pirates of Penzance. 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. For one season (1983–1984), Atkins had a recurring role as camp counselor Peter Richards on Dallas.

In 1999, Atkins appeared in the television sitcom Suddenly Susan, which starred Shields. In 2009, Atkins appeared on VH1's Confessions of a Teen Idol, a reality show featuring former teen idols. Atkins was ranked no. 76 on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Teen Stars.

Atkins became a luxury pool builder and co-developed the Christopher Atkins Strike Jacket E.F.L. (Extreme Fishing Lure), "a rubbery slipcovering for traditional baits."

In 2023, Atkins appeared in Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas, where he reunited onscreen with his Dallas costar, Linda Gray.

Personal life

Atkins married Lyn Barron Weber of Sydney, Australia, on May 25, 1985. They have two children: son Grant Bomann (b. 1985) and daughter Brittney Bomann (b. 1987). They divorced in 2007.

In a 2009 interview, Atkins acknowledged his past struggle with alcoholism and stated that he had been sober for 22 years.

Filmography

Film and television

References

1. "Atkins, Christopher 1961– | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
2. ^ "Happy Birthday To Rye's Christopher Atkins". Rye Daily Voice. February 21, 2014.
3. ^ Tauber, Michelle (October 9, 2000). "From the Depths". People.com.
4. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ "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. ^ 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. ^ Rizzo, Monica (February 16, 2009). "Christopher Atkins second act". People. Retrieved August 23, 2018.

External links

• Christopher Atkins on Facebook
• Christopher Atkins at IMDb

• 1961 births
• Living people
• 20th-century American male actors
• 21st-century American male actors
• Male actors from New York (state)
• Actors from Westchester County, New York
• American people of German descent
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• American male voice actors
• American male singers
• American male pop singers
• American businesspeople
• People from Rye, New York
• Playgirl Men of the Month