Christopher Atkins Biography: Height, Net Worth, Movies, Children, Wife, Career, Age

Christopher Atkins Bomann is an American actor and businessman who rose to fame in 1980 with his first major film role as Richard Lestrange in The Blue Lagoon.

Prior to that he had no professional acting experience; he was working as a sailing instructor when he was cast.

His performance in The Blue Lagoon made him a teen idol virtually overnight. He later played Peter Richards on Dallas (1983-84), among many film and television roles, and has also pursued business ventures outside of acting.

Profile

• Full name: Christopher Atkins Bomann
• Date of birth: February 21, 1961
• Age: 64 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Rye, New York, United States
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actor; businessman; screenwriter; former model; former lifeguard and sailing instructor
• Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
• Weight: About 145 lbs (he once said he was trying to get to 155 lbs for A Night in Heaven)
• Eye color: Blue
• Hair color: Blond (often sun-light blond)
• Parents: Father ‒ Donald Bomann; Mother ‒ Bitsy Nebauer
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Lyn Barron Weber (m. May 25, 1985; divorced 2007)
• Children: Grant Bomann (son), Brittney Bomann (daughter)
• Relationship status: Divorced
• Ethnicity: German descent
• Net worth: approx. US$2 million

Early Life and education

Christopher Atkins is now 64 years old. He was born on February 21, 1961 in Rye, New York. His parents are Donald Bomann, a real estate agency owner/business executive, and Bitsy Nebauer, a science teacher.

His parents divorced when he was a child. In his youth he worked as a lifeguard and sailing instructor. Knee problems ended earlier ambitions in baseball, leading him to modeling. He attended Denison University.

Personal Life

Christopher Atkins married Lyn Barron Weber of Sydney, Australia, on May 25, 1985. The two had two children: Grant Bomann born in 1985, and Brittney Bomann born in 1987. Brittney is also involved in acting. The marriage ended in divorce in 2007. He has publicly acknowledged a past struggle with alcoholism, and as of 2009 stated that he had been sober for 22 years.

Career

Christopher Atkins was working as a sailing instructor when a friend suggested he try out for The Blue Lagoon. Though he had no prior acting experience, he landed the part of Richard Lestrange opposite Brooke Shields; that was his debut in 1980. The film was commercially successful, earning over US$58 million on a modest budget but drew negative critical reviews.

After The Blue Lagoon, he appeared in The Pirate Movie (1982) with Kristy McNichol; his song “How Can I Live Without Her” from that film charted on Billboard. He also acted in A Night in Heaven (1983), played in the TV series Dallas (1983-84) as Peter Richards, plus many more films and television roles through the 80s, 90s, and beyond.

Outside acting, he became a businessman. He co-developed the Christopher Atkins Strike Jacket E.F.L., a fishing lure product, and has been involved in luxury pool building. He has also done modeling (for example posing for Playgirl in 1982) and voice work.

Awards and Nominations

• Nominated: Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male (for The Blue Lagoon)
• Winner: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor (for A Night in Heaven, 1983)

Net worth

Christopher Atkins’s net worth is estimated at about US$2 million. Much of this came from his early success in The Blue Lagoon, continued acting work, voice roles, television appearances, and business ventures including outdoor-sports products and luxury pool construction.

Controversy

Over his career, Atkins has been involved in some controversies. The nude scenes in The Blue Lagoon were viewed as controversial at the time because of the sexual content and nudity. Critics often criticized his performances in certain films (for example The Pirate Movie, A Night in Heaven) and he received Razzie Awards for worst actor in some roles.

More recently, a 2025 interview revealed that while he was on the TV show Dallas, the network CBS reportedly sent him a note telling him to stop adjusting or “stuffing” his Speedo on camera, something he discussed in the media.

Social Media

• Instagram: @christopheratkins1

Filmography

• The Blue Lagoon (1980)
• Swan Lake (voice; 1981)
• Child Bride of Short Creek (TV movie; 1981)
• The Pirate Movie (1982)
• A Night in Heaven (1983)
• Dallas (TV series; 1983-1984)
• Secret Weapons (TV movie; 1985)
• Hotel (guest episode; 1985)
• Beaks: The Movie (1987)
• Mortuary Academy (1988)
• Listen to Me (1989)
• Shakma (1990)
• Wet and Wild Summer! (1992)
• Dracula Rising (1993)
• Die Watching (1993)
• ¡Dispara! / King’s Ransom (1993)
• Trigger Fast (1994)
• Guns of Honor (TV movie; 1994)
• Smoke ‘n’ Lightnin’ (1995)
• It’s My Party (1996)
• Mutual Needs (1997)
• Lima: Breaking the Silence (1999)
• Deadly Delusions (1999)
• Stage Ghost (2000)
• Thirteen Child (2002)
• Under the Gun (2002)
• The Stoneman (2002)
• Quigley (2003)
• Caved In: Prehistoric Terror (2006)
• Payback (2007)
• Spiritual Warriors (2007)
• Blind Ambition (2008)
• 100 Million BC (2008)
• Forget Me Not (2009)
• Melissa (short; 2010)
• Stained Glass Windows (2010)
• Sedona (2011)
• Family 2.0 (short; 2011)
• Exodus Fall (2011)
• Assassins’ Code (2011)
• Hidden (2011)
• Harley’s Hill (2011)
• Blue Lagoon: The Awakening (TV movie; 2012)
• Crazy Kind of Love (2013)
• Amy (2013)

Discography

• How Can I Live Without Her (song; part of The Pirate Movie soundtrack)