From '80s Teen Idol to Pool Builder – 40 Photos of 'Blue Lagoon' and 'Dallas' Star Christopher Atkins' Transformation

A teen idol at just 19, a TV pool builder at 47, and a doting grandfather in his 60s — the extraordinary, rollercoaster life of Christopher Atkins has been marked by fame, betrayal, addiction, and redemption.

Christopher Atkins was born on February 21, 1961, in Rye, New York. Long before millions of adoring fans would scream his name, he was just a fresh-faced model with no acting experience whatsoever.

That anonymity vanished in 1980 when, at just 19 years old, he was plucked from obscurity to star in "The Blue Lagoon." The steamy, taboo-breaking drama — co-starring Brooke Shields — shocked audiences with its daring portrayal of shipwrecked cousins discovering love and intimacy on a deserted island.

While critics slammed it for its nudity and controversial storyline, the box office told another story. The film became a smash hit, propelling Atkins overnight into teen idol hysteria.

Overnight Sensation and Sudden Obsession

Fame hit fast, and with it came attention from every corner. He admitted to being constantly hit on as a teen idol but revealed that there were more offers from men than women, explaining that gay men were his "biggest fan base."

The young actor found himself the object of desire everywhere he went — a dizzying, intoxicating, and often overwhelming spotlight. Still, he pressed on.

Atkins added credits to his résumé with projects like the TV movie "Child Bride of Short Creek" (1981) and lent his distinctive voice to animated features "Swan Lake" and "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" in 1982.

By this time, Atkins was taking daring career leaps. He donned pirate garb for "The Pirate Movie," a campy musical adventure based on Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance." A year later, he scandalized audiences again in "A Night in Heaven" (1983), playing a college student by day and a stripper by night.

Hollywood wasn't done with him yet. That same year, Atkins landed a juicy, fan-favorite role in primetime's most infamous soap, "Dallas." For 27 episodes between 1983 and 1984, he played Peter Richards — and solidified his status as a television star with a face America couldn't forget.

Fame Fades and Struggles Begin

Atkins's stardom had reached its peak in the early 1980s, but by the mid-decade, the offers were slowing. His once-bright spotlight dimmed as he shifted to made-for-TV movies and supporting roles, including "Secret Weapons" (1985) and a guest appearance on "Hotel" the same year. Behind the scenes, though, he was facing harrowing personal turmoil.

Shortly after marrying Australian model Lyn Barron, Atkins was blindsided by betrayal. His then-manager, Mick Schneider, had embezzled as much as $500,000 from celebrity clients — leaving the actor virtually broke. "There is nothing worse than having your whole life pulled out from under you," he later said.

The devastation drove him into an alcohol-fueled breakdown in 1986, after which he checked himself into rehab. That dark period marked the beginning of a hard-fought battle toward decades of sobriety.

Clawing Back a Career

Even in turmoil, Atkins never abandoned acting. He kept his career alive with roles in "Night Rose: Akhbar's Daughter" (1987), "Beaks: The Movie" (1987), and "Mortuary Academy" (1988). By 1989, he took on Bruce Arlington in "Listen to Me" and, in 1990, Adam Brenner in "Fatal Charm." They were smaller productions, but they kept him working.

By the early 1990s, Atkins was not only a working actor but also a father to two children — Grant and Brittney. In 1993 alone, he juggled roles in "Wet and Wild Summer!," "Outrage," "Die Watching," and "Dracula Rising." He also made guest appearances on "The New Adventures of the Black Stallion" and "Detective Extralarge."

Throughout the mid-to-late 1990s, Atkins continued to work steadily in television and direct-to-video films. He starred in "Bullet Down Under" (1994), "Guns of Honor," "Trigger Fast," and the TV movie "Bandit: Bandit Goes Country." He also reprised Spence in "King's Ransom" (1994).

In 1995, he played Snake in "Project Shadowchaser III" and made a guest turn on "Red Shoe Diaries." That year also brought "Dead Man's Island." By 1996, he had TV movie roles in "Angel Flight Down" and "Smoke n Lightnin." Guest roles in "Silk Stalkings" and "High Tide" kept him steadily visible, even if outside the mainstream spotlight.

Independent Roles and Endless Hustle

As the 2000s approached, Atkins embraced character-driven independent films. Between 1999 and 2002, he appeared in movies like "Suddenly Susan" (TV), "Lima: Breaking the Silence," and "Deadly Delusions." He played Sam Gitlin in "Deadly Delusions" and Theodore Sutherland in "True Legends of the West."

In 2002 alone, Atkins stacked six credits, including "Tequila Express," "Under the Gun," "The Color of Water," "The Stoneman," "13th Child," and "The Little Unicorn." From cowboys to cops, he showed a willingness to diversify — even if the films lacked blockbuster allure.

Love, Loss, and Reality TV Redemption

In 2007, Atkins's personal life changed dramatically when he divorced Barron. He later described himself as a serial monogamist, explaining that following his divorce, he had been in two long-term relationships — one lasting seven years, the other four.

The late 2000s brought him back into the spotlight. In 2009, Atkins reemerged on television as part of VH1's "Confessions of a Teen Idol." The show reunited former heartthrobs in a bid to revive their fame.

For Atkins, then 47, it was more than nostalgia. "It is kind of my turn again," he admitted. "Somewhere in the back of your mind, you wonder, do you still have it?"

That same year, he proudly revealed he had been sober for 22 years. Reflecting on the darkness of the 1980s, he said, "I wouldn't change a thing. It's who I am today."

From Hollywood Heartthrob to Pool Builder

While rekindling his acting career, Atkins also embraced an unexpected passion: building luxury swimming pools. His elaborate lagoon-style designs — often created for Hollywood elites — echoed the irony of his breakout film "The Blue Lagoon."

"You have to do what you need to do," he stated. "If you look at life as an adventure, when the good, bad, and ugly [hit] you, you'll still get through it."

By the 2010s, he balanced pool-building with steady acting work in indie films like "Forget Me Not" (2009), "Melissa," and "Stained Glass Windows" (2010). In 2011, he appeared in "Sedona," "Family 2.0," "Hidden," and "Assassins' Code."

A Return to His Lagoon Roots

In 2012, Atkins revisited the film that made him a household name. He appeared in "Blue Lagoon: The Awakening," playing Mr. Christiansen — a nod to his own early stardom and a symbolic passing of the torch to a new generation.

Through the 2010s, he leaned into faith-based and family productions, including "The Sparrows: Nesting" (2014), "Waiting in the Wings: The Musical,: and appearances in "CSI: Miami," "Guardian Angel," and "Kids vs Monsters." By 2015, roles in "A Horse for Summer" and "The Treehouse" kept him steadily employed.

Grandfather, Actor, and Dreamer Adored on Social Media

Now 64, Atkins remains active both on screen and online. In recent years, he has delighted fans on Instagram, where loyal followers — many of whom have adored him since his rise to fame in the 1980s — continue to shower him with praise.

In July 2025, one fan raved, "The handsomest man alive! Love you Christopher Atkins!! ❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥." Another cheered, "Great photo's he still has it!![sic]" Admirers embraced his aging with affection.

"I love the lighting that celebrates your wrinkles and your twinkling eyes!" praised one, while another noted, "Wow, still a good looking hunk, and that smile." One summed it up with "One of a kind! You rock. Naturally."

Meanwhile, Atkins has kept his acting career alive with credits in films like "Lake of Fire" (2020), "Attraction to Paris" (2021), and the holiday feature "Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas" (2023).

Upcoming projects include "Out for Vengeance," "The Curse of the Gorgon" (completed), "Prism" (pre-production), "Lucky Valentine," and "Heavy Hitters."

Still hungry for creative challenges, Atkins once voiced ambitions to work behind the camera. "I really would like to build a house from the ground up," he once revealed. "Write, produce, direct, all of that, and I've got a couple of things very, very close that I'm excited about."

And he has already put those ambitions into action. Atkins has worked as a producer on projects including the short "Better Late Than Never" (2014), the feature "Amy" (2013), and "Beings" (1998). He is also attached as producer on upcoming titles "Feathering the Wind" (in development) and "Lucky Valentine" (in pre-production).

As a writer, his credits range from the TV series "29 Minutes & Counting" (2004) to "Pets to the Rescue" (2002) and "Beings" (1998). Both "Feathering the Wind" and "Lucky Valentine" also list him as a writer, showing that he continues to pursue his vision for storytelling.

However, the role he treasures most is being a grandfather. By April 2021, he had three grandsons — and described their adventures with sheer joy.

"I take them snake hunting, we go camping, fishing, play ball, wrestle all the time, we have a blast," he shared proudly. "They're so much fun." The actor considers himself "the best" grandpa.

From Hollywood heartthrob and struggling survivor to pool designer and proud grandfather, Christopher Atkins has weathered the storms of fame with grit and grace.

His career may have soared, stumbled, and reinvented itself more than once, but through it all, he has held onto his charm, his sobriety, and his bond with family. At 64, he stands as a reminder that even after the brightest spotlight fades, life can still offer new roles — and new joy.