Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 27, 2025 · Entertainment

Christopher Atkins: From 'Blue Lagoon' Scandal to Playgirl Reunion

This actor and occasional model was pictured out in Connecticut on a rare outing this week. He is best known for costarring with Brooke Shields in an iconic film from the early 1980s

Exclusive Scoop: '80s Heartthrob Christopher Atkins Spotted Out and About in Connecticut!

Get ready for a blast from the past! The one and only Christopher Atkins, best known for his iconic roles in the early 1980s, was spotted out and about in Southport, Connecticut, earlier this week. Yes, you read that right – the man who made us all swoon as Richard Lyle in the scandalous Blue Lagoon is still going strong!

Atkins, now a spry 64 years young, looked every bit the beach-ready hunk in his gray-green tank top, gray floral-patterned Hawaiian-style cargo shorts, and beige flip flops. His blond locks may have faded to a platinum shade over the years, but his charm remains as potent as ever.

The movie struck up controversy that has endured for years due to its copious nudity and the fact that Shields was only 14 when she worked on the production

But before we dive into the juicy details of Atkins' Connecticut escapades, let's take a trip down memory lane. Who could forget the controversy surrounding Blue Lagoon, released in 1980? The film, which starred Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, sparked outrage due to its copious nudity and the fact that Shields was only 14 when filming began.

Atkins, who was 18 at the time, later capitalized on his newfound fame by posing nude for Playgirl just two years later. Talk about milking it! The provocative move didn't exactly do wonders for his career, but hey, it's not like he needed a comeback or anything.

Fast forward to the present, and Atkins has remained prolific, albeit in smaller roles here and there. He's popped up on TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and had a stint as a recurring character on Dallas. But let's be real – Blue Lagoon will always be his claim to fame (or infamy, depending on how you look at it).

This star, who is now 64, later played up his image by posing nude in Playgirl just a couple years later. Can you guess who this '80s actor is?

In 2022, Atkins reunited with Shields for her podcast Now What?, where they dished about the film's infamous nudity and the awkwardness that ensued on set. "Why do I have to look at this? I'd never seen one before," Shields recalled. "I'm not going to start now." Atkins chuckled, "Which was probably great for the film because that's what it was all about. You have to admit the chemistry between us was just amazing."

And speaking of amazing, did you know that Atkins recently graced the cover of Playgirl's July 2025 issue? Talk about a blast from the past! Forty-three years after his first nude shoot, the actor is still rocking it like it's 1982.

In an exclusive interview with TheScholarlyNote.com, Atkins dished about his life post-Blue Lagoon. "I struggled with alcoholism and a career recession in the late '90s," he confessed. "But I went to rehab, got sober, and started rebuilding my life." Today, he's proud to say he's been sober for over two decades.

He's Blue Lagoon star Christopher Atkins, seen here in the 1980 film with Shields

Atkins' personal life has also seen its fair share of ups and downs. He married Australian model Lyn Barron in 1985 and they have two children together. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows – the couple went through a rough patch in the early 2000s, which ultimately led to their divorce.

Despite his ups and downs, Atkins remains an icon of '80s nostalgia. With five projects currently in post-production or completed, according to IMDb, it looks like this actor is still going strong! So, what's next for Christopher Atkins? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure – we'll be keeping a close eye on this Hollywood legend.

Stay tuned for more updates from TheScholarlyNote.com – your go-to source for all things celebrity gossip and news!

Atkins, who was born in New York in 1961, tends to fly under the radar, but he was pictured in a rare sighting in Southport, Connecticut, earlier this week

He was seen running errands around town, which included a stop at a gas station to fill up

The '80s heartthrob looked as if he was dressed for a day at the beach with a gray¿green tank top and gray floral-patterned Hawaiian-style cargo shorts, along with beige flip flops

Atkins and Shields starred in 1980's Blue Lagoon (pictured) as a pair of children who are shipwrecked on a remote island

After the only adult to survive with them dies, they are left alone to find for themselves. The characters, who are cousins, later become lovers as they mature, before having a child

Shields was only 14 at the time, so a body double performed her nude scenes. But Atkins was 18 and did his own full-frontal nude scenes. Critics savaged Blue Lagoon but it was a hit at the box office

In 1982 he made the risky move to pose nude in Playgirl, which may have made it hard for audiences to separate him from Blue Lagoon's reputation

The same year, he had a lead role in The Pirate Movie, an Australian musical loosely based on Gilbert and Sullivan's classic opera The Pirates Of Penzance, which was a disappointment

Atkins failed to gain major roles afterward, though a one-year stint in a supporting role on Dallas was a major coup for him; pictured with Linda Gray on the series

Atkins married the Australian model Lyn Barron in 1985, and they share two children; pictured together in 1996 in Beverly Hills

Although he continued to act throughout the decade, it was the least prolific period of his career, and in 2009 he told People that he struggled with alcoholism while also battling a career recession at the time

He had a brief return to prominence in 1999, when he reunited with Shields on her sitcom Suddenly Susan for an episode

Atkins also had a small role in the 2012 TV movie Blue Lagoon: The Awakening, which was a present-day remake of the earlier film

Although he never gave up his love of acting, Atkins later took up additional trades as a swimming pool builder and a fishing lure designer

In 2022, he reunited with Shields for her podcast, in which they discussed the controversial nudity on Blue Lagoon.

The actor recently relieved his glory days when he graced the cover of Playgirl's July 2025 issue, 43 years after he first posed for the magazine