Bo Derek

Bo Derek (born Mary Cathleen Collins; November 20, 1956)[1] is an American film and television actress, film producer, and model perhaps best known for her breakthrough film role in the sex comedy 10 (1979). She was directed by husband John Derek in Fantasies, Tarzan, the Ape Man (both 1981), Bolero (1984) and Ghosts Can't Do It (1989), all of which received negative reviews. A widow since 1998, she lives with actor John Corbett. Now in semi-retirement, she makes occasional film, television, and documentary appearances.

Bo Derek
Derek in 2018
Born
Mary Cathleen Collins

(1956-11-20) November 20, 1956
Long Beach, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1973–present
Notable work
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1976; died 1998)
Partner(s)John Corbett (2002–present)

Early life

Derek was born Mary Cathleen Collins in Long Beach, California. Her father, Paul Collins, was a Hobie Cat executive, and her mother, Norma (née White), was a make-up artist and hairdresser to Ann-Margret. Collins' parents divorced, and her mother married American stunt performer Bobby Bass.

Collins attended Narbonne High School and George S. Patton Continuation School, both in Harbor City, California. She remarked in a 1985 interview on Late Night with David Letterman:

I was 16 when I quit high school. I didn't really mean to quit. I spent about a month going to the beach surfing and sunbathing while I was supposed to be in school: when I got caught, my mom was furious. I started to go back to school, and I was really enjoying it, and then I went to go do this film with John in Greece ...[2]

Career

Acting

While attending Narbonne High School in Los Angeles at age 16 in 1973,[2] Collins became sexually involved with John Derek, a married man 30 years her senior. Not long after the two started dating, Derek divorced his wife, actress Linda Evans. The couple moved to Germany, where John Derek would not be subject to prosecution under California statutory rape laws, because Collins was under the age of consent.

In 1973 John Derek began production on a film titled Fantasies, a low-budget, English-language romantic drama starring Collins and several unknown German actors. The film was shot over a 10-day period in Greece. In an effort to capitalize on Collins' beauty, Derek worked into the film several risqué scenes, including brief nudity. John Derek twice re-edited the film in an effort to sell it to major studios. The film remained unreleased until 1981, at which time it received negative notices.[3]

Collins and John Derek married on June 10, 1976; she was 19 and he 49. By that time Derek had given his young wife a so-called Hollywood makeover: she had bleached her hair blonde and adopted the name Bo Derek.[4] In 1977 director Michael Anderson cast Derek in a small role in his horror film Orca - The Killer Whale (1977), in which Derek has her leg bitten off by the title character.[5]

In 1979 Derek was allegedly selected over Melanie Griffith, Heather Thomas, and several others for the role of Jenny Hanley in the romantic comedy film 10.[6] Directed by Blake Edwards, the film starred Dudley Moore as a middle-aged man who finds Derek's character to be the ideal woman. Derek's appearance in a dream sequence, racing towards Moore in a flimsy flesh-colored swimsuit, launched her status as a mainstream sex symbol. This sequence and Derek’s cornrow hairstyle in the film have often been parodied. 10 was a critical and financial success.[7]

After 10, Derek was cast in A Change of Seasons (1980), a dramatic-comedy film that featured Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Hopkins. Derek played a college student who has an affair with her older, married professor. A Change of Seasons was only a moderate box-office success, with critics reviewing it and Derek's performance unfavorably ("The only appealing performance is Miss MacLaine's").[8]

In 1980 Derek photographed Bo twice for Playboy magazine; she was featured again in the magazine in 1981, 1984, and 1994.[9]

Derek appeared in MGM's R-rated Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), her first leading role in a mainstream Hollywood film. Directed by her husband, the film dealt little with Tarzan and instead focused on Derek's character of Jane Parker, and specifically on Derek's physical attributes. Several scenes of Derek wearing revealing outfits were featured, along with nude scenes of Derek being bathed and body-painted. Prior to the film's release MGM and the film's distributor, United Artists, were sued by the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate over the name of the film, as Derek's role and body overshadowed the story of Tarzan.[10] Although the film received negative reviews from many critics, Tarzan, the Ape Man became a box-office success, making over $35 million in ticket sales and becoming the 15th highest-grossing film of 1981.[11] For her performance, Derek shared the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress with Faye Dunaway, the latter for her starring role as Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest.

Derek starred in Bolero (1984). Again directed by John Derek, the film explored the female protagonist's sexual awakening, and her journey around the world to find an ideal first lover to take her virginity. Its sexual nature, along with its substantial use of nudity, resulted in the film receiving an X rating, usually reserved for pornographic or extremely violent horror films. Critical reviews for Bolero, including Derek's performance, were negative ("[Bo Derek] would be a lot more appealing if she tried less assiduously to please"),[12] and the film failed to recoup its production costs.[13] For her performance in Bolero Derek won her second Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress. The film received other Golden Raspberry Awards: Worst Picture, Worst Director (John Derek), Worst Screenplay (John Derek), Worst New Star (Olivia d'Abo), and Worst Musical Score (Peter Bernstein and Elmer Bernstein).

After a five-year hiatus Derek returned to feature films with the drama/comedy/fantasy Ghosts Can't Do It (1989). The final collaboration of Derek with her husband as director, Ghosts Can't Do It was a failure both critically (a "cinematic abomination")[14] and financially.[15] For her performance in Ghosts Can't Do It, during which she delivered such lines as "You have my heart...how can I live without my heart," Derek won her third Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress. The film also won Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Director (John Derek), and Worst Supporting Actor (Donald Trump).

Derek in 1998

Following Ghosts Can’t Do It Derek returned to acting in the television movies Hot Chocolate (1992) and Shattered Image (1994), and the straight-to-video film Woman of Desire (1994). In 1995 Derek appeared in the comedy film Tommy Boy. For that performance Derek was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress but ultimately lost to Madonna for the latter's performance in Four Rooms.

In 1998 Derek guest-starred on four episodes of Wind on Water. In 1999 she appeared on The Drew Carey Show, and in the early 2000s she had guest roles on the shows Family Law, Queen of Swords, Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place, Lucky, Still Standing, and 7th Heaven.

At the 20th Golden Raspberry Awards in 2000, Derek was nominated for Worst Actress of the Century, sharing the nomination with Madonna (the eventual winner), Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Berkley, and Pia Zadora.

Derek appeared in several more feature films during the 2000s, including Frozen with Fear (2000), The Master of Disguise (2002), for which she received her second Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress nomination, and Malibu's Most Wanted (2003). In 2006 Derek starred in 40 episodes of the 65-episode telenovela series Fashion House. Derek had a featured role in the 2015 made-for-TV campy horror film Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!. Derek was reported to have participated in the 2016 Comedy Central roast of Rob Lowe[16] but is absent from the eventual cast list.[17]

Political views

Derek, who describes herself as independent, supported George H. W. Bush in 1988 and 1992, and campaigned for his son George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, and she appeared at both Republican conventions. She voted for Barack Obama in 2008.[18] She has appeared at events with bachelor Republican Congressman David Dreier of Southern California.[19]

When White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten was asked about his relationship with Derek on the edition of April 30, 2006, of Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, Bolten said she was a friend and a "strong supporter of the President". In 2006, she was appointed to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by President George W. Bush, on the operations committee.[20]

In 2012 Derek endorsed Mitt Romney for president.[21]

Personal life

Horse owner and activist

A horse lover and riding enthusiast since childhood, Derek owns Andalusian horses and is a spokesperson for the Animal Welfare Institute's campaign to end horse slaughter through passage of federal and state legislation. On February 5, 2002, she published her autobiography entitled Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses (ISBN 0-06-039437-4). She serves on the California Horse Racing Board.

Wounded veterans advocate

Derek is a national honorary chairperson for Veterans Affairs' National Rehabilitation Special Events. She attended the 17th annual Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village, Colorado. In 2003 she received the VA's highest honor from Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi. Derek makes appearances on United Service Organizations tours. The Special Forces Association named her an honorary Green Beret.[22]

Derek's father, Paul Collins, was a radio operator during the Korean war. Both her stepfather and late husband, John Derek, were veterans.

Wild Aid

Derek has been active for 18 years WildAid to protect sharks and dissuade people from purchasing wildlife products.  On August 13, 2020, Bo Derek was a guest on the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week.[23][24]

Relationships
Bo Derek with husband John Derek and Chandran Rutnam

John and Bo moved to Germany and returned to the United States soon after Bo's 18th birthday; they married in 1976 and remained so until his death from heart failure in 1998.[25]

Since 2002, she has been in a relationship with actor John Corbett and they live on a ranch in Santa Barbara, California.[26]

Awards and nominations

Acting credits

Film
Film Year Role Notes
Orca 1977 Annie a.k.a. Orca: The Killer Whale (for some releases).
10 1979 Jenny Hanley Nominated – Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Female
A Change of Seasons 1980 Lindsey Rutledge
Fantasies 1981 Anastasia Billed as: Kathleen Collins. Filmed in 1973; legally her "film debut".
Tarzan, the Ape Man 1981 Jane Parker Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress
Bolero 1984 Ayre "Mac" MacGillivery
Ghosts Can't Do It 1990 Katie O'Dare Scott
Woman of Desire 1993 Christina Ford
Tommy Boy 1995 Beverly Barish-Burns Callahan Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress
Sunstorm 2001 Victoria Warren
Frozen with Fear 2001 Katherine Sullivan
Horror 101 2001 Miss Allison James
The Master of Disguise 2002 Herself Cameo appearance
Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress
Malibu's Most Wanted 2003 Bess Gluckman
Boom 2003 Herself Cameo appearance
5 Weddings 2017 Mandy Singh Dhaliwal

Television
Program Year Role Notes
Hot Chocolate 1992 BJ Cassidy Television movie
Shattered Image 1994 Helen Allgood Television movie
Wind on Water 1998 Ciel Connolly 3 episodes
The Drew Carey Show 1999 Herself 1 episode
Family Law 2000 Camille Weller 1 episode
Queen of Swords 2000 Mary Rose 1 episode "The Witness"
Murder at the Cannes Film Festival 2000 Thada Pryce Television movie
Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place 2001 Susan Bergen 3 episodes
Lucky 2003 Joan 1 episode
Still Standing 2005 Mrs. Rose Grundy 1 episode
7th Heaven 2003–05 Mrs. Kinkirk 3 episodes
Crusader 2005 Nicola Markham Television movie
Fashion House 2006 Maria Gianni 40 episodes
The Hunt for the I-5 Killer 2011 Seaver Television movie
Chuck 2012 Herself Season 5, Episode 10 "Chuck Versus Bo"
CSI: Miami 2012 Joanna Toring Season 10, Episode 14
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! 2015 May Wexler Television movie
The Last Sharknado: It's About Time 2018 May Wexler Television movie

Production credits

Film
Film Genre Year Role Notes
Love You Porn 1979 Producer John Derek directed the film.
Ghosts Can't Do It Romantic Comedy 1989 Producer, Actor
gollark: Oh, I guess the digging lasers are a bit unreliable.
gollark: For secrecy.
gollark: The STN™'s much lower.
gollark: How did you run into it? I thought you were at y=50.
gollark: It's secret, so no.

References
  1. "Bo Derek". AllMovie. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  2. 1985 - Bo Derek on YouTube
  3. "Young Bo Derek In 'Fantasies'". The New York Times Company. November 7, 1981. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  4. "Bo Derek Then & Now". Stanton Daily Media Partners. 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  5. "Orca - The Killer Whale". Fandango. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  6. "10 (1979) - Trivia". IMDb.com Inc. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  7. "Top 1979 Movies at the Domestic Box Office". Nash Information Services LLC. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  8. "'Change of Seasons,' Bo Derek vs. Miss MacLaine". The New York Times Company. December 19, 1980. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  9. "The 50 Hottest Celebrities Who've Posed For Playboy". Complex Media Inc. February 23, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  10. "Bo Derek Takes To The Jungle To Bring 'Tarzan' Back Alive". The New York Times Company. July 19, 1981. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  11. "1981 Yearly Box Office Results – Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  12. "Film: Bo Derek in 'Bolero'". The New York Times Company. September 1, 1984. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  13. "1984 Yearly Box Office Results". IMDb.com Inc. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  14. "Ghosts Can't Do It". Allmovie. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  15. "Your Movie Sucks". ultimatemovierankings.com. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  16. "Peyton Manning, Bo Derek, Rob Riggle set to roast Rob Lowe". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  17. "Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe". IMDb.com. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  18. "Bo Derek Dispels the Belief She's Republican: 'I'm Independent. I Voted for Obama'". Hollywood Reporter. January 16, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  19. "Congressman David Dreier: Gay & Ashamed" Archived December 21, 2005, at the Wayback Machine, Larry Flynt.com
  20. "The Kennedy Center Activity Report for California" Archived May 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Kennedy Center Web site
  21. Cottle, Michelle (June 14, 2012). "The GOP's Two-Faced Celeb Bashing of Obama's Parker-Wintour Fundraiser". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  22. "Bo Derek named honorary Green Beret". Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  23. "Josh Gates Tonight: Are We Having Fin Yet? | Expedition Unknown". Discovery. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  24. "Bo Derek". WildAid. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  25. Vallance, Tom (May 25, 1998). "Obituary:John Derek". The Independent. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  26. https://variety.com/2020/film/news/bo-derek-linda-evans-10-donald-trump-1234734836/
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