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. 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". Atkins was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male for The Blue Lagoon.
In 1982 Atkins posed nude for Playgirl, and co-starred with Kristy McNichol in The Pirate Movie, 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, Atkins won the 1983 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor. For one season, Atkins had a recurring role as camp counselorPeter 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 GreatestTeen Stars. Atkins became a luxury pool builder and co-developed the Christopher Atkins Strike Jacket E.F.L. --"a rubbery slipcovering for traditional baits."
Personal life
Atkins married Lyn Barron Weber of Sydney, Australia, on May 25, 1985. The couple have two children: son Grant Bomann and daughter Brittney Bomann. The couple divorced in 2007. In a 2009 interview, Atkins acknowledged his past struggle with alcoholism and stated that he had been sober for 22 years.
