From ’80s Teen Idol to Pool Builder – 40 Photos of ‘Blue Lagoon’ and ‘Dallas’ Star Christopher Atkins’ Transformation
Christopher Atkins’ remarkable and turbulent life has been characterized by popularity, betrayal, addiction, and redemption. He was a teenage idol at the age of 19, a TV pool builder at the age of 47, and a devoted grandfather in his 60s.
On February 21, 1961, Christopher Atkins was born in Rye, New York. Long before his name would be yelled by millions of devoted admirers, he was only a young model with no prior acting experience.
That anonymity was erased in 1980 when he was grabbed out of the shadows at the age of 19 to star in “The Blue Lagoon.” Co-starring Brooke Shields, the sultry, taboo-breaking drama astonished viewers with its audacious depiction of shipwrecked cousins finding closeness and love on a remote island.
The box office revealed a different narrative, despite the fact that critics criticized it for its controversial plot and nudity. As a result of the film’s immediate success, Atkins became an adolescent idol.
The sudden obsession and overnight sensation of fame quickly attracted attention from all directions. As a teenage star, he acknowledged that he was frequently approached, although he disclosed that more males than women made offers, stating that his “biggest fan base” was gay guys.
Everywhere he went, the young actor was the focus of attention—a dizzying, seductive, and frequently overwhelming limelight. But he persisted.
Projects like the 1981 television film “Child Bride of Short Creek” and the 1982 animated films “Swan Lake” and “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp” both featured Atkins’ unique voice.
Atkins was making bold career moves by this point. He dressed as a pirate for the campy musical adventure “The Pirate Movie,” which was based on Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance.” He shocked viewers once more a year later when he played a stripper at night and a college student by day in “A Night in Heaven” (1983).
He wasn’t finished with Hollywood yet. Atkins scored a meaty, fan-favorite part in the most notorious soap opera on primetime that same year, “Dallas.” He played Peter Richards for 27 episodes from 1983 to 1984, cementing his reputation as a television personality that America would never forget.
Struggles and the Decline of Fame Start
Early in the 1980s, Atkins’s fame peaked, but by the middle of the decade, the opportunities were dwindling. As he transitioned to made-for-TV films and supporting parts, such as “Secret Weapons” (1985) and a cameo on “Hotel” that same year, his once-bright spotlight faded. But behind the scenes, he was going through terrible personal struggles.
Atkins was caught off guard by treachery shortly after marrying Australian model Lyn Barron. The actor was essentially broke when his former manager, Mick Schneider, embezzled up to $500,000 from famous clients. “There is nothing worse than having your whole life pulled out from under you,” he added afterwards.
He checked himself into a treatment facility in 1986 after the destruction caused him to have an alcohol-fueled collapse. A grueling fight toward decades of abstinence began during that terrible time.
Regaining a Career
Atkins never stopped performing, even during difficult times. His parts in “Beaks: The Movie” (1987), “Night Rose: Akhbar’s Daughter” (1987), and “Mortuary Academy” (1988) sustained his career. Between 1989 and 1990, he faced Bruce Arlington in “Listen to Me” and Adam Brenner in “Fatal Charm.” Despite being lesser projects, they provided him with employment.
Atkins had two children, Grant and Brittney, by the early 1990s in addition to being a working actor. He balanced parts in Die Watching, Outrage, Wet and Wild Summer!, and Dracula Rising in 1993 alone. Additionally, he appeared as a guest on “Detective Extralarge” and “The New Adventures of the Black Stallion.”
Atkins kept up a steady career in television and direct-to-video movies throughout the mid-to-late 1990s. His roles included “Trigger Fast,” “Guns of Honor,” “Bullet Down Under” (1994), and the television film “Bandit: Bandit Goes Country.” Spence also appeared in “King’s Ransom” (1994) again.
He starred in “Project Shadowchaser III” as Snake in 1995 and appeared as a guest on “Red Shoe Diaries.” It was also the year of “Dead Man’s Island.” His TV film roles by 1996 included “Angel Flight Down” and “Smoke n Lightnin.” Even though he was not in the public eye, his guest appearances on “Silk Stalkings” and “High Tide” kept him consistently prominent.
Self-Reliant Positions and Infinite Work
Atkins embraced independent, character-driven films as the 2000s drew near. He starred in films such as “Deadly Delusions,” “Lima: Breaking the Silence,” and “Suddenly Susan” (TV) between 1999 and 2002. He portrayed Samuel Gitlin in “Deadly Delusions” and Theodore Sutherland in “True Legends of the West.”
Atkins piled up six credits in 2002 alone, including “Tequila Express,” “Under the Gun,” “The Color of Water,” “The Stoneman,” “13th Child,” and “The Little Unicorn.” Even if the films lacked the appeal of blockbusters, he demonstrated a willingness to expand by playing cops and cowboys.
Love, Grief, and the Redemption of Reality TV
Atkins’s personal life took a significant turn in 2007 after he and Barron got divorced. He later referred to himself as a serial monogamist, stating that he had been in two committed partnerships after his divorce, one lasting four years and the other seven.
He returned to the public eye in the late 2000s. Atkins made a comeback on TV in 2009 when she appeared on VH1’s “Confessions of a Teen Idol.” In an attempt to resurrect their fame, the show brought erstwhile heartthrobs together.
It was more than nostalgia for Atkins, who was 47 at the time. “It is kind of my turn again,” he acknowledged. “Somewhere in the back of your mind, you wonder, do you still have it?”
He said with pride that year that he had been sober for 22 years. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said, recalling the gloom of the 1980s. That’s who I am now.
From Pool Builder to Hollywood Star
Atkins pursued an unusual love while reviving his acting career: creating opulent swimming pools. His intricate arrangements in the form of lagoons, frequently made for Hollywood celebrities, mirrored the irony of his breakthrough movie “The Blue Lagoon.”
He said, “You have to do what you need to do,” “If you look at life as an adventure, when the good, bad, and ugly [hit] you, you’ll still get through it.”
He managed to juggle pool construction during the 2010s with consistent playing roles in independent films such as “Forget Me Not” (2009), “Melissa,” and “Stained Glass Windows” (2010). He starred in Assassins’ Code, Sedona, Family 2.0, and Hidden in 2011.
A Trip Back to His Lagoon Origins
Atkins returned to the movie that made him famous in 2012. He played Mr. Christiansen in “Blue Lagoon: The Awakening,” a reference to his own early fame and a symbolic handoff to a new generation.
He gravitated toward family-friendly and religious projects throughout the 2010s, such as “The Sparrows: Nesting” (2014), “Waiting in the Wings: The Musical,” and roles in “CSI: Miami,” “Guardian Angel,” and “Kids vs. Monsters.” His parts in “A Horse for Summer” and “The Treehouse” had secured him a steady job by 2015.
Dreamer, Actor, and Grandfather Favored on Social Media
Atkins, 64, is still active online and on screen. He has thrilled supporters on Instagram in recent years, where devoted following, many of whom have loved him since his 1980s ascent to prominence, keep praising him.
One admirer exclaimed in July 2025, “The most attractive man on the planet! Christopher Atkins, you are loved! ❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥. “Wonderful photos, he still has it!” exclaimed another.[sic]” His aging was accepted with affection by admirers.
One person exclaimed, “I love the lighting that celebrates your wrinkles and your twinkling eyes!” Another person said, “Wow, still a good looking hunk, and that smile.” “One of a kind!” was how one person put it. You are amazing. Of course.”
With roles in movies like “Lake of Fire” (2020), “Attraction to Paris” (2021), and the holiday picture “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas” (2023), Atkins has managed to sustain his acting career in the interim.
Some of the upcoming projects are “Out for Vengeance,” “The Curse of the Gorgon” (finished), “Prism” (pre-production), “Lucky Valentine,” and “Heavy Hitters.”
Atkins once expressed a desire to work behind the camera, demonstrating his continued hunger for new challenges. “I would really like to build a house from the ground up,” he finally admitted. “Write, produce, direct, all of that, and I’ve got a couple of things very, very close that I’m excited about.”
Additionally, he has already implemented those goals. Atkins has produced films such as “Beings” (1998), the feature “Amy” (2013), and the short “Better Late Than Never” (2014). Additionally, he is a producer on the future films “Lucky Valentine” (pre-production) and “Feathering the Wind” (in development).
His writing credentials include the television shows “Beings” (1998), “Pets to the Rescue” (2002), and “29 Minutes & Counting” (2004). As evidence that he is still pursuing his storytelling vision, “Feathering the Wind” and “Lucky Valentine” both mention him as a writer.
But being a grandfather is what he values most in life. He had three grandsons by April 2021, and he spoke joyfully about their travels.
“I take them snake hunting, we go camping, fishing, play ball, wrestle all the time, we have a blast,” he proudly stated. “They’re so much fun.” According to the star, he is “the best” grandfather.
Christopher Atkins has endured the rigors of celebrity with dignity and tenacity, going from struggling survivor and Hollywood hunk to pool designer and proud grandfather.
Notwithstanding the fact that his career has often taken off, faltered, and changed course, he has managed to maintain his charisma, sobriety, and familial ties. At 64, he serves as a reminder that life can still provide new roles and joys even when the most dazzling spotlight has faded.
