Photos: Christopher Atkins after 'The Blue Lagoon'

Christopher Atkins became known worldwide through an iconic romantic film of the 1980s. Now, over 60 years old, the heartthrob is still reaping the rewards of his first job as an actor!

Atkins was born on February 21, 1961, in New York, USA. As a teenager, he aspired to be a baseball player, but recurring knee problems led him to change his mind.

Photo: Kenny Eliason / Unsplash

Christopher Atkins entered the artistic world at age 16 to pursue a modeling career. However, when he was 18 years old, a friend suggested that he audition for the movie 'The Blue Lagoon'. From then on, his fate changed completely.

Christopher did not imagine that this would be the beginning of his career as an actor. In fact, he was surprised when he was called for the next phase of the audition, as he had no experience and was up against a huge list of candidates.

After several meetings with the film's producers, Christopher spent two months without receiving news about his possible participation in the film. He even gave up on the idea and went to do a summer job, teaching children to sail.

Finally, however, he got a call from the casting department, asking him to do another audition. The reason could not be better: he was considered for the role of the protagonist, Richard, alongside Brooke Shields who, at the time, was only 14 years old.

In an interview on Oprah Winfrey's talk show, Atkins reveals that, upon arriving on the island, the directors wanted him to feel connected to Brooke, so that they could play together in a natural way. They even gave him a picture of the young actress.

The film was shot on one of the islands of Fiji, in Oceania, more than 4,000 kilometers from Australia. The entire crew lived in makeshift huts during the four and a half months of filming.

It was in that paradisiacal setting that Atkins became familiar with cameras, sets, and the entire filming process, something he had been unaware of before.

Christopher Atkins' life changed with the film. Here you can see him in 2010, pointing at the iconic images of him in 'The Blue Lagoon.'

Atkins told Oprah that the fame was overwhelming. "There was no place on the planet where people didn't 'attack' me. The fans literally pulled my hair and ripped my shirt... Honestly, it was the last thing I imagined could happen to me in my entire life."

In the photo, next to his daughter, Brittney, in 2011.

After the great success, Atkins starred in 'The Pirate Movie' alongside actress Kristy McNichol in 1982. He also filmed 'A Night in Heaven' with Lesley Ann Warren, to be released in 1984. Strikingly, on the posters of both movies, Arkings appears without a shirt. His chest had become his trademark!

The actor was one of the pioneers to act without clothes, causing great controversy at the time. In fact, from then on, he was invited to do a lot of work that included scarcely dressed characters. It was something that Atkins ended up getting used to.

On Instagram, the actor later shared bits of the film, and his fans, by now parents of young adults themselves, commented that their children were flabbergasted by his undressed performance in 'The Blue Lagoon.'

Photo: @christopheratkins1

Ever since becoming an 80s star, the actor has remained active in the entertainment industry. He participated in both movie productions and TV films and series while also working behind the camera as a producer and screenwriter.

Going back to the beginning, Atkins made a small appearance in the remake of 'The Blue Lagoon', a romance adventure and drama directed by Mikael Salomon in 2012.

In the image, you can see him with director Stacey Gahl and Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) in 2010.

In 2019, the actor participated in the series 'Defrost: The Virtual Series,' He played George Michael Garrison for 11 episodes.

All in all, the movies and shows after 'The Blue Lagoon' were no blockbusters. The 1979 classic would become the one production that Atkins was most famous for. Among his longtime fans was actress Gina Lollobrigida, in the picture.

Atkins told Oprah that he had gotten the opportunity to play another iconic lead early in his career, but that his inflated ego held him back. Do you know which role that was?

The role he didn't take was that of Ren McCormack in the musical film 'Footloose.' Instead of Atkins, the directors eventually chose Kevin Bacon (photo) to star in the major hit of 1984.

Christopher was married to Australian Lyn Barron from 1985 to 2007.

During these 22 years of marriage, the couple had two children: Grant Bomann, born in 1985, and Brittney Bomann, born in 1987.

In 2015, Atkin returned to Fiji at the invitation of the owner of the island's only hotel to celebrate the 35th anniversary of 'The Blue Lagoon'.

At the time, he was with his then-girlfriend, Sandra Ankarbjörk. It was the first time the actor had returned to the island since filming the blockbuster in 1979.

In an interview with Celebrity Drop, the actor said he no longer sees the point in going to a normal beach. He prefers environments where he can feel more free and comfortable!

The actor said that the fans' display of affection still surprises him. It's often when he takes off his clothes that people approach him to ask for a selfie. He wrote about this on his Instagram profile.

On his 62nd birthday in 2023, Atkins went skiing with his aunt and uncle (pictured). If he has any of their genes, he should still be an active and fit man for decades to come!

Photo: @christopheratkins1