RyeGPT People of Note is a series highlighting individuals who have a connection to the City of Rye. In the series we use artificial intelligence to prepare a biography and explain the individual’s connection to Rye.
Given it is the end of summer, we are highlighting the Rye-born star of one of the quintessential hot weather classics that takes place amongst lush, sun-drenched island scenery.
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Before he became an international teen idol after starring opposite Brooke Shields in The Blue Lagoon, Christopher Atkins was a kid growing up in the quiet suburban coastal community of Rye, New York.
Born Christopher Atkins Bomann on February 21, 1961, in Rye, he spent his formative years around the local schools and waters of Westchester County long before Hollywood came calling. His upbringing in Rye, particularly his familiarity with Long Island Sound, helped shape a path that would take him from aspiring athlete and sailing instructor to international film star almost overnight.
Growing Up in Rye
Atkins was raised in Rye by his parents, Donald Bomann and Bitsy Nebauer. Growing up along Long Island Sound, he developed an early interest in outdoor activities and sports. As a child, he raced sailboats on the Sound and became comfortable in and around the water, interests that would later prove useful in his acting career.
As a teenager, Atkins worked in Rye as a lifeguard and sailing instructor while pursuing his interest in athletics, including baseball. Knee problems eventually ended his aspirations of playing professional baseball, prompting him to explore modeling and commercial work in New York City. He also attended Rye Country Day School.
His experience around the water would soon become an unexpected asset. When he auditioned for a major feature film, his background as a sailor and familiarity with the water helped distinguish him from the thousands of young actors being considered for the role.
The Rocket to Stardom
In 1979, Atkins attended an audition for The Blue Lagoon after being encouraged by a friend. Despite having no formal acting experience, the 18-year-old Rye native was selected by director Randal Kleiser to star opposite Brooke Shields in the 1980 film.
The Blue Lagoon became a major commercial success, grossing more than $58 million at the North American box office and making Atkins an international teen idol. His performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for New Star of the Year – Male.
Atkins continued working in film and television throughout the 1980s and beyond. He starred in The Pirate Movie (1982) and joined the hit prime-time soap opera Dallas during the 1983–84 season, playing Peter Richards, a love interest of Linda Gray’s character, Sue Ellen Ewing. Over the following decades, he built a career spanning feature films, television movies and guest appearances.
Life Beyond the Screen
Beyond acting, Atkins maintained his interest in fishing and outdoor pursuits. He developed a fishing-lure invention and received a U.S. patent in 2002 for a “flesh-like jacket” designed for fishing lures.
The Blue Lagoon (1980) – Official Trailer:
