Bo Derek facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bo Derek
Derek in 2022
Born	Mary Cathleen Collins (1956-11-20) November 20, 1956 (age 68) Long Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress Model
Years active	1973–present
Notable work	10 (1979) Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) Bolero (1984) Tommy Boy (1995)
Spouse(s)	John Derek ​ ​ (m. 1976; died 1998)​ John Corbett ​ (m. 2020)​
Relatives	Sean Catherine Derek (stepdaughter)

Bo Derek (born Mary Cathleen Collins on November 20, 1956) is an American actress and model. Her big break came with the popular comedy film 10 in 1979. This role made her a major celebrity and earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Derek also starred in movies like Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), Bolero (1984), and Tommy Boy (1995). She has appeared in many television shows as well.

Besides acting, Derek is known for her charity work. She helps disabled military veterans and works to protect animals, especially horses and endangered wildlife. She was married to director John Derek until he passed away in 1998. In 2020, she married actor John Corbett.

Early Life and Family

Bo Derek was born Mary Cathleen Collins in Long Beach, California. Her father, Paul Collins, worked for the boat company Hobie Cat. Her mother, Norma, was a makeup artist and hairdresser for the actress Ann-Margret. Her parents later divorced, and her mother remarried a stunt performer named Bobby Bass. Bo grew up with two sisters and a brother.

She went to Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California. In an interview, she explained that she once skipped school for a month to go to the beach. After she got caught, she started enjoying school more. Soon after, she left to film a movie in Greece.

Acting Career

First Movie Roles

When she was 16, Collins auditioned for a movie called Once Upon a Love, directed by John Derek. She got the part and had to dye her blonde hair brown for the role. While making the movie, she and John Derek began a relationship. They moved to Germany for a while.

They returned to the United States and got married in 1976, when she was 19. From then on, she used the professional name Bo Derek. The movie they made, Once Upon a Love, was not released until 1981 under the new title Fantasies.

In 1977, she had a small part in the horror film Orca.

Becoming a Star with '10'

In 1979, Derek became famous for her role in the comedy 10. The movie was about a man, played by Dudley Moore, who thinks Derek's character is the perfect woman. A famous scene of her running on a beach in a swimsuit, with her hair in cornrows, made her an international star. The movie was a huge success, and Derek was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as New Star of the Year.

Movies in the 1980s

After 10, Derek starred in A Change of Seasons (1980) with Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Hopkins. In 1981, she played Jane Parker in Tarzan, the Ape Man. The movie was directed by her husband, John Derek, and focused a lot on her character. Although critics did not like it, the movie was a box office hit. For her role, Derek won a Golden Raspberry Award, which is an award given to movies and actors for bad performances.

Her next film was Bolero (1984), also directed by her husband. The movie was very controversial and received negative reviews. It won several Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Actress for Derek and Worst Picture.

Her final movie with her husband was Ghosts Can't Do It (1989). It was not successful and also won several Golden Raspberry Awards.

Derek in 1998

Later Career

In the 1990s, Derek appeared in the comedy film Tommy Boy (1995) and several TV movies. She also guest-starred on TV shows like The Drew Carey Show.

Throughout the 2000s, she continued to act in movies like The Master of Disguise (2002) and Malibu's Most Wanted (2003). She also appeared in many TV series, including 7th Heaven and Fashion House. In 2015, she had a role in the TV movie Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!.

Charity and Advocacy Work

Bo Derek is passionate about helping others and protecting animals.

Helping Horses and Veterans

Derek has loved horses since she was a child. She owns several horses and works with the Animal Welfare Institute to stop the mistreatment of horses. In 2002, she wrote an autobiography called Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses.

She also dedicates her time to helping U.S. military veterans. Her father was a veteran of the Korean War. She is an honorary chairperson for the Veterans Affairs' National Rehabilitation Special Events, which helps disabled veterans through sports.

Protecting Wildlife

For many years, Derek has worked with WildAid, an organization that protects endangered animals like sharks. In 2006, she was named a Special Envoy by the U.S. government for her work on wildlife protection issues.

Personal Life

Bo Derek with husband John Derek (right) and Chandran Rutnam

Bo Derek was married to director and actor John Derek from 1976 until he died in 1998.

In 2002, she began a relationship with actor John Corbett, who is known for his roles in ... and the City and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. They live together on a ranch near Santa Barbara, California, and they got married in December 2020.

Politics

Derek calls herself an independent, which means she does not belong to one political party. She has supported presidents from the Republican party, like George W. Bush, who appointed her to the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She also voted for Barack Obama, a Democrat, in 2008.

In a 2020 interview, she said she prefers not to talk about who she votes for. She explained, "I'm an independent. I don't want to be pigeonholed and labeled as one thing or another."

Film and Television Roles

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Bo Derek para niños