If for some reason you want to feel really old, take note that Christopher Atkins is now a grandfather. The actor, who instantly became a heartthrob when his film debut The Blue Lagoon was released 35 years ago this weekend, is now 54 years young and still acting on occasion. Atkins costarred opposite Brooke Shields in the 1980 blockbuster about two shipwrecked kids coming of age sexually on a deserted South Pacific island, and spent most of his screen time opposite barely clad in a loin cloth when he wasn’t completely nude, because who needs clothes when you’re stranded on a tropical isle? Anyway, Atkins emerged from the salty water a full-fledged teen idol and sex symbol, who’d go on to pose for Playgirl (NSFW pics here), star opposite Kristy McNichol in the campy 1982 musical The Pirate Movie (look for it!), play a stripper in 1983’s silly A Night in Heaven and spend a season on the prime time soap Dallas. He’s since been in a lot of movies you probably haven’t heard of or will care to watch with cheesy titles, such as Deadly Delusions and Mutual Needs, but give the guy props for continuing to work.
To mark the anniversary of his splashy debut, Atkins traveled back to Fiji, where it was filmed and shared memories of his return as well as some photos he took with People magazine.
Related: The Man Who Made Christopher Atkins A Sex Symbol Now Brings You Penis Stories
“Of course we were going to enjoy the beach the way it was meant to be, without any clothes on,” he said about our favorite photo from the article below.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
So here’s to you 35 years later, Chris Atkins. Still looking good, buddy.
Check out the original trailer for the film below then scroll down for a few recent-ish photos of the still-striking Atkins.
He caught up with other vintage hunks (from left) C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Maccio and Lorenzo Lamas at a Hollywood Collectors show in 2014.
The rugged dude enjoyed a hike in the Sierra Mountains in 2012.
Ken French
I thought it said stroking.
Jim Beshear
Wonders what he looks like today. Me I look better. ROFLMAO. Well duh read the post before asking stupid questions.
Billy Budd
There is a scene in the movie where we can clearly see his dick. He was a very beautiful man. I masturbated a lot, thinking of him, when I saw this movie for the first time as a kid.
Jackson Dallas Ryan
Damn he is still hot.
Gus Anderson
A Night in Heaven
Avery Alvarez
I only saw the heavily censored version on TBS. Gotta agree with @Billy Budd: I remember many fond, fond watching him in it.
jason smeds
Oh my, Mr Atkins looks even more handsome than he did all those years ago!!! It just goes to show that if you look after yourself, you won’t age. Good genes help, too.
Message to Mr Atkins: hubba, hubba.
Joe T
Wow! That is a horrible trailer. lol Loved the movie when I was a teen tho’. Am I the only one who has the soundtrack on LP? Still think it’s a beautiful soundtrack plus it has a nice pic of Christopher on it. 🙂
Kyle Richard
My first celebrity crush
Kyle Richard
And I love The Pirate Movie
Will N Van
Still hot.
iltman
Oh yes a highlight of my teenage years, Christopher was a stunning young man and I have to admit he’s still attractive, living proof of what the combination of good genes and clean living can do.
mickie1
the first time i saw Christopher in the blue lagoon i practically creamed in my pants !!! we was an absolute masturbatory dream cum true !!! i saw it 6 times when it was at the theatre — bought the VHS tape when it first came out and i have the DVD version both in widescreen and the formatted to fit your screen version. its been one of my summertime movies for a long long time. that said we jump to today and as we see photos of him in the present. i must say he’s aged well for a natural blonde. most blondes do not age well—look at Robert Redford !! what i don’t get is that his career fizzled after only a few years on big and small screens. but i am happy he’s well, he’s made my 4th of July special
mickie1
@Joe T: i had the lp for years— trying to get the cd version — its on amazon but its very rare and very pricey — what a beautiful score it was !!!
Bill Crossfield
he is still damn hot
Don Olson
I worked with him once and he is a real nice guy
Bob LaBlah
It seems hard to believe it has been thirty-five years already. I remember the day when VCR’s with slow motion were over $600.00 at the Broadway department store. I bought one from the store at Hollywood and Vine. There were scenes in this movie and quite a few others that, based on the technology at that time, I felt my money was well spent.
OrchidIslander
All I remember about this movie was that the white people grew up tall and beautiful and the black people were dark and sinister.
michaelmt1009
If I was confused about my lifestyle 35 years ago after watching Christopher in The Blue Lagoon there was no doubt. Still looking great all these years later.
Ronnie Helton
Who are you and why are you posting this perverted stuff?
Stache99
The one who hasn’t aged well is C. Thomas Howell. I had such a crush on him. Then I saw him play in some Sci Fi channel war of the worlds and he looked every bit his age and add a decade. I think it’s the skinny people that don’t age too well.
Stache99
@Gus Anderson: Yeah, cheesy movie but I still remember that scene with him taking off his space suit while the animotion song going.
He wouldn’t of turned me on now. Too twinky. Back then he was the cats meow.
Stache99
I think that Ralph Maccio aged the best though. Just weird because I havn’t seen him since the Karate kid. Wash on..wash off.
Stache99
Damn. If they wouldv’e added Scott Baio that would’ve completed my boy crushes:)
Doughosier
@Stache99: I believe C Thomas Howell has had some health issues recently. I saw Christopher Atkins in person about 15 years ago and thought I’d die. He really still was hot but he was my God as a teen.
lykeitiz
@Stache99: Ralph Macchio did “Dancing With The Stars” either 1 or 2 seasons ago. He really is timeless. He looked amazing!
lauraspencer
Wear your sunscreen people!
TomMc
I totally manipulated my sister into asking my mom to take her, her friends (and me!) to see The Blue Lagoon for her b-day.
(No, I didn’t know the theme – given that, in hindsight it was creepy of me – but I did know that I’d get to see Christopher Atkins naked.)
Most importantly…
Were they alive or dead at the end?!
Robb Stevens
I love you Christopher. You helped realize I was gay
SonOfKings
I wouldn’t care if he is 110 years old. He will always be a legend because he is the one and only Christopher Atkins. The young, male stars of today can’t compete with that legacy.
stanhope
@OrchidIslander: well then your memory is selective….the light skinned people, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll, Halle Berry, Harry Belafonte, Mario Van Peebles, Dorothy Dandridge, Vanessa Williams, Drake, Beyoncé, the new revised Janet and me all aged or are aging well. If you can say stupid shyt so can I. Now go back to the haters table in the kitchen…the white folks don’t want to see you and the light folks don’t want to claim you while we’re eatin’. LMAO
stanhope
@Stache99: willie Aames and Jan Michael Vincent!
Eldred
Damn. I think I was 8-10 years old the first time I saw this movie. My mother owned hundreds of VHS movies that we kept on a huge black shelf. When he was on screen in that loin cloth I felt things I never knew I could feel. I wouldn’t begin to understand it until 6-7 years later when I pounded my best friend on his couch. Good times.
Stache99
@stanhope: Jan Michael Vincent for sure but damn did he ever change.
tusgold
I stole the playgirl magazine my mother had whee he was in it. Dude was so hot!