# Christopher Atkins

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[s] 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

| 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 |