The return of "The Blue Lagoon"'s Christopher Atkins

(Atkins in a 'Pirate Movie' promo circa 1982 c/o Getty Images)

From the quaint, quiet, little town of Rye, New York to the mean "Streets of San Francisco" to a trio of cult film classics "The Blue Lagoon" (1980), "The Pirate Movie" (1982), and "A Night in Heaven" (1983), Christopher Atkins went from lifeguard and sailing instructor to superstar actor almost overnight. With his curly blond locks, infectious smile and bronzed body, 19-year-old Atkins was tailor-made for his most enduring role as teen heartthrob.

Let's face it, if you're a gay of a certain age, maybe somewhere between the ages of 35 and 45, you probably remember seeing the actor in a loin cloth (and even nude) in "The Blue Lagoon" and questioned the feelings that were erupting inside of you somewhere between your heart and your loins -- kind of like the mystifying sensations that Atkins' character in the "Adam and Eve"- inspired film, Richard, began feeling towards his adopted sister Emmeline (played by then 14-year-old Brooke Shields). Maybe you even decided that you were gay at that very moment, or maybe that movie inspired you to come OUT. If that's the case, then you're definitely in good company. But just as quickly as Atkins came under our cultural gaydar did he fall off our map.

Today at 46, he plots his return with, you guessed it, a new reality show entitled "Confessions of a Teen Idol," an eight-part series that follows Atkins, along with other bodacious 80's and 90's studs and hunks (David Chokachi ("Baywatch"), Billy Hufsey ("Fame"), Jeremy Jackson ("Baywatch"), Eric Nies (MTV’s "The Real World" and "The Grind"), Jamie Walters ("Beverly Hills 90210"), and Adrian Zmed ("TJ Hooker", "Grease 2") as they live together, confront professional and personal mistakes and try to rebuild their careers one 13-year-old girl (or boy) at a time.

Gay.com caught up with Atkins to uncover where he's been, where he's going, and why he remains a gay icon after almost 30 years.

Hi Christopher, so tell us what motivated you to do this reality TV show.

Umm, well, I didn't want to for a long time, but then I was asked to talk to Scott Baio and Jason Hervey about it, because they wanted to talk to me and really explain what the show would be out. What's interesting for me is that it's looking into the lives of people who had incredible fame... how it affected them, their loved ones, the people around them, and how it affected them today. It kinda gave the fans that were there from the beginning insight into the good, the bad and the ugly. What's interesting is that my kids are both seniors in college, about to graduate, so I have the itch again to get back into acting. So it came about at the right time and it was about the right topic.

On the show, what tools and connections are you given in order to make that much-prized comeback?

We got to work with a clothing designer, who is an interior decorator for humans. We got a new look, style, a lot of health and beauty stuff, and exercise -- it's all about getting that motor going again. A lot of people don't realize how difficult the business actually is -- it's not just autographs and sunglasses. There's a lot of work that goes into it. You have to stay looking good and you have to work out. There's a lot of effort put into it if you're going to do it, so we had stylists, make-up artists, stylists for facials, working with an acting coach and reliving all of that. Marki Costello, a mover and a shaker, who's in your face, comes on the show to tell us what it's all about, which is great 'cause I'm sticking my foot back in.

What was it like living with the other guys?

I already knew Billy, 'cause he was on the sound stage across from me shooting 'Fame' when I was on 'Dallas.' Jeremy Jackson, I never met before. He was the youngest, so it was interesting to watch what he's gone through and what he's going through. There are a lot of similarities, so to speak. David was a guy from back East, like me, who sort of stumbled into the business. Eric was somebody I never met before, and he came with a whole different vibe. He was this health guy and brought in raw foods and made green drinks and brought mats that align your biorhythms. And to this day I'm drinking coconut drinks. With Jamie, I knew the song, but didn't know anything about him. But he was a cool guy; he was a fireman and he was doing his dream. It was interesting to see and hear what he was doing on a daily basis. He was on '90210' and had the number-one single in the world. Adrian and I both have adult children. Everyone was interesting.

How did you foresee your career trajectory when you first started acting?

I had no clue. I always wanted to play pro baseball and go into sports medicine, and then ended up in the movie business. I was an 18-year-old kid riding the waves, so it was more the people around me who had an idea of what was happening to me. I just went with the flow. It was so far and foreign for me that I wouldn't have had an idea.

Working with Director Randal Kleiser [of "Grease" fame] on "The Blue Lagoon," did you think you'd become the next John Travolta?

Oh my god, no. I had no idea what a camera was. I was modeling for Ford Modeling Agency and so was called to an audition. I was asked to go in and audition for a movie, and I never thought that I would ever get it. I was one of 4,000 people that auditioned, so when it happened, it was all fresh and new. A lot of people come to Hollywood to act and all I wanted to do was play sports.

So then why didn't you pursue sports instead?

I couldn't play sports, because I had too many knee operations. So unlike someone who's studied acting, I learned as I went along. It was an on-the-set training situation for me. Don't get me wrong. It is a very cool business, and it is very flattering to be part of that business. 'Blue Lagoon' is a classic film and is in the Library of Congress as a classic film. A lot of people come out to Hollywood from all over the planet, from farm towns across the U.S., to be a star. I am just somebody who was lucky enough to grab the brass ring.

OK, so set the scene for me. What was it like for you, the small town boy, living in Hollywood in the early 80's?

First of all, Columbia put me under contract for four years, which was the first time a studio put someone under an exclusive contract in years. 20th Century Fox bought it and I did other films. But for the most part all I had to do was sit there and collect a check to do nothing. I was here as an 18-year-old kid, who owned his own house and a Porsche that I later traded for a Ferrari. I met all new friends out here, and it was one party after another, waiting for something to happen. It was sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

Did you know that Randal was gay during the making of "Blue Lagoon"?

Randal, no, I didn't really. I think later on in the film, or maybe it came up before. I guess I knew, but it didn't bother me. I didn't care.

So you had no issue about disrobing for a gay director during shooting?

Randal asked on the airplane ride over how I feel about nudity. I said, 'I take a shower.' 'No, on the island,' he said. 'I don't know, I've never done it,' I answered. I was not freaking out, but I couldn't answer till we got going. He also wanted us to get full tans, so we were in side-by-side tanning areas, where we talked to each other as we laid in the tanning beds getting tanned, because if you're on an island for all those years, you're fully tanned and not wearing clothes. It was not for sexual content, but with the actual aspect of what the film was about. Once we got there, the island was pretty much deserted, except for young hippie Australians, and everyone was running around topless. So I just jumped in.

OK, so your next film post-"Blue Lagoon" was "The Pirate Story" opposite Kristy McNichol? Was her true sexual orientation common knowledge at the time?

I had an idea. That was right when she was going through her time, coming OUT, being more public or accepting it. That was 1982 and we were young kids, just getting a little crazy. She was dealing with demons, bipolar issues that she was dealing with, and at the same time her sexual orientation. She was dealing with it her way. She had her girlfriend out there, and it wasn't said and it wasn't unknown.

So I know you're an actor and all, but was it strange for you to play her paramour in the film and duet with her on "How Can I Live Without Her?" knowing that the two of you could never be?

No, because I'm such a freak. I wanted her to want me. But regardless, we had a good time. Kristy is an awesome girl. She went through an awful struggle in her life. This was the way it was back in the day, because Randal was gay, and I still go hiking with Randal -- he's one of my closest, dearest friends.

Why did you choose to do "Playgirl"?

I wanted to grow up a little bit and be perceived as not the little baby-faced guy. I was one of the first big risk-takers. Back then, I was one of the first young people to do something like that, to be seen on a more mature level.

What was the general response?

My mom wasn't so thrilled. I don't think it exploded that much with 'Playgirl,' but I did have a lot of people writing Greg Gorman wanting to buy the negatives. Now I say that the only reason I don't have a series is because there's not a sex tape or because I'm not an alcoholic.

But you still sell nude photos of yourself on your site?

I don't care. I never did it before, but I have them, and they're going to get out there some way, because other people have pictures. But it's not if I can't beat 'em, then I'll join 'em. You know what's funny, though? 98 percent of the people who buy them are gay males. They love it and I don't have a problem with it. I think it's really sweet, but why some return to buy the same photos over and over again... I don't even want to think about what happened to the old ones. But there's no reason that I can't give back to everybody. If they don't have a problem with it, then I don't either.

I also read on your MySpace page that you're into nude beaches.

Oh yeah, every chance I get. Mostly in California, whenever I find time to go. I used to go with my family, my wife and kids and all that. Now I'll go with a girlfriend, and there's one that I frequent all the time and have a good time at. I end up with a bunch of great people, where we'll party on the beach and make hors d'oeuvres and hamburgers and have a great time.

You'd work with Randal again on "It's My Party" in the mid-1990's. Why did you decide to take on a gay role?

There was a photographer on 'Blue Lagoon,' and he was the greatest guy. He eventually died of AIDS, and I ended up playing a combination of him and someone else. I said, 'Oh man, I'd be honored,' because the movie was about someone I was really close to, someone I knew -- there's footage of me bringing my kids over to Randal's house and Harry was there. I bawled my eyes out when I read the script. It was a really beautiful film. It was very personal for me, and personal for Randal. I was really touched to be in the picture.

So I know you've been working consistently in the years since, but now, post "Confessions of a Teen Idol," I assume that you want to get bigger roles again.  But the difference now is that you'll probably have to rely more on talent than on teen idol status.

I hope so. I definitely want to start opening a lot of doors. My kids are older, so it's time, and I'm excited to step back in. You hit it right on the nose. I always worked but never had a big picture and done that. Part of it was that I was so focused on being a father. I always wanted that. Even when I was teaching sailing from age 16 I put a dollar away each week for a family. I didn't want to be one of those parents who wished that they had read to their daughter or threw a ball to their son. I didn't chase the business; I didn't put out as much as I should have or needed. Now that they're older and I did my thing as a dad I can let them live their lives -- and this is my chance. It's a different time and I'm a different person, and I hope it does happen. But if it doesn't, I'm still working.

Which roles do you see yourself in these days?

I always wanted to do a romantic comedy. 'Blue Lagoon' was so romantic, so I think I'm best at that. Or an Adam Sandler type of film, something really comedic would be a fun thing, or a Brad Pitt 'Benjamin Button' kind of role -- something quirky and interesting. It won't happen right now, because those are big roles. But I'd love to get back in the business and find interesting roles; It would be really fun. But I'll probably never outgrow the diaper. I did a shoot with 'People' magazine recently, and the photographer said, 'Now, it's time for the nudes.' I said, 'What are you, crazy?' What the hell? I never thought I'd hear that again. I thought that time ended years ago.

Do you think that gays will ever play husband and husband or wife and wife?

Umm, I never gave too much thought to it, but mankind adapts and adjusts to everything. People live in snow and out in the desert, so there's nothing that's going to destroy mankind. Religious martyrs are adding much more damage to communities, much more than gay marriage ever could. The only thing that bothered me was how back in the day militant gay advocate people were calling me and threatening me, saying, 'We know you're gay and you have to come out or we'll force you out.' You don't want that kind of thing, because you have to lead by example. But what's come since is so beautiful. What we just experienced was another bump in the road for something that's going to happen. But being so close to it, I know that eventually people will do the right thing -- and they'll handle it beautifully.

Do you feel close to the gay community?

I get it all the time, even to this day, people coming up to me and telling me fascinating stories about coming OUT after seeing my movies. It's really interesting and really cool. That's the part of fame that is a cross to bear, how it affects people's lives. Everyone's famous on a daily basis, if they want to be... some people selfishly rather than selflessly. But it makes the world a better place when you lead by example.

Aside from the obvious, why do you think that you're such an icon to gay men?

I did an interview with 'The Advocate' years ago, and I'll never forget what the guy said. He asked me, 'Do you know why you have such a huge gay following?' What happened, according to him, is that 'Blue Lagoon' came out at a time in history when a lot of people were coming OUT in the gay community. In the early 80's it was becoming more prominent. People were stepping out, and to have a movie with more prominent male nudity than female for the first time, I became the poster child for this movement. 'Wow, that's very flattering, very cool,' I remember thinking. I always thought that was very unique.

"Confessions of a Teen Idol" premieres Sunday, January 4 at 8p.m. on VH1.

Comments

[Terry Reid]

I do not understand. Is Christopher Atkins gay or not?