Christie Brinkley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christie Brinkley
Brinkley at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival
Born	Christie Lee Hudson (1954-02-02) February 2, 1954 (age 71) Monroe, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Model actress entrepreneur
Years active	1973–present
Height	5 ft 9+1⁄2 in (177 cm)
Spouse(s)	Jean-François Allaux ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1981)​ Billy Joel ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 1994)​ Richard Taubman ​ ​ (m. 1994; div. 1995)​ Peter Cook ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2008)​
Children	3, including Alexa Ray Joel and Sailor Brinkley Cook

Christie Lee Brinkley (born February 2, 1954) is a famous American model and actress. She is best known for appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue three times in a row. This was a very rare achievement!

Christie was also the face of CoverGirl cosmetics for 25 years. She has been on over 500 magazine covers. Besides modeling, she has worked as an actress, artist, TV personality, and writer. She is also an activist who cares about human and animal rights, and the environment. Christie has three children, including Alexa Ray Joel and Sailor Brinkley Cook.

Christie Brinkley's Early Life

Christie Lee Hudson was born in Monroe, Michigan on February 2, 1954. Her family later moved to Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Marjorie, married television writer Donald Brinkley. Donald adopted Christie and her brother, Greg.

The family lived in Malibu and Brentwood. Christie went to Paul Revere Junior High School. She also attended Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles for high school. After graduating in 1972, she moved to Paris to study art.

Christie Brinkley's Career Journey

How Christie Brinkley Started Modeling

In 1973, Christie was discovered by American photographer Errol Sawyer in Paris. He took her first modeling photos. He then introduced her to John Casablancas of the Elite Model Management agency. Christie later said she was "basically a surfer girl from California" and never thought she looked like a model.

After meeting with Elite, she returned to California. Soon, she was booked for three national advertising campaigns.

Christie Brinkley's Big Successes

Christie quickly appeared on many Glamour magazine covers. She then signed a 25-year contract with CoverGirl. This was one of the longest modeling contracts ever! In 2005, CoverGirl signed her again for ads for mature skin products.

Christie made history by appearing on three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers. This happened in 1979, 1980, and 1981. She was also featured in the first Sports Illustrated Calendar. In 2005 and 2014, she was honored in special anniversary issues of the magazine.

As a model, Christie has been on over 500 magazine covers. These include US, Vogue, Newsweek, and Life. She has also worked with many big brands. These include Chanel No. 19, MasterCard, Diet Coke, and Nissan. Christie has been photographed in over 30 countries.

Christie Brinkley in Acting and TV

Brinkley in 2000

Christie Brinkley started acting in 1983. She played "The girl in the red Ferrari" in the movie National Lampoon's Vacation. She played this role again in the 1997 movie Vegas Vacation. She also spoofed the role in commercials and on the TV show The Goldbergs.

She appeared on NBC's Mad About You. This episode was very popular. Christie also hosted Celebrity Weddings InStyle for Lifetime. In 1992, she had her own TV show on CNN called Living in the 90s — With Christie Brinkley.

Christie also appeared in music videos for Billy Joel. These include "Uptown Girl" and "Keeping the Faith". She had a recurring role on NBC's Parks and Recreation. She played Gayle Gergich, the wife of Jerry Gergich.

In 2011, Christie made her stage debut in the musical Chicago. She played the role of Roxie Hart. She performed in New York, London, and on tour across the U.S. In 2019, she was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. However, she got injured and her daughter, Sailor, took her place. In 2022, she competed on The Masked Singer as "Lemur."

Christie Brinkley's Businesses

Since 1997, Christie has promoted Total Gym home fitness equipment. She also promotes her own beauty products, Christie Brinkley Authentic Skin Care. She has a line of hair extensions called Hair2Wear. Christie also has Bellissima Prosecco, an organic sparkling wine label. She also has Christie Brinkley Eyewear, a line of eyeglasses.

Other Creative Work

In 1983, Christie wrote and illustrated a book. It was called Christie Brinkley's Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Book. This book became a New York Times Best Seller. She also illustrated the cover for Billy Joel's 1993 album River of Dreams. Rolling Stone magazine called it the "Best album cover of the year."

Christie has also designed clothing patterns for Simplicity Pattern. In 1994, she helped design her own line of glasses called Christie Brinkley Perspectives. She also released her own perfume, Believe, in 1998.

Christie Brinkley's Personal Life

Christie Brinkley has been married four times. Her second marriage was to musician Billy Joel in 1985. They met in 1983 in the Caribbean. They were married on a yacht on the Hudson River. They had one daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, born in 1985. Christie and Billy Joel remain good friends.

In 1994, Christie married real estate developer Richard Taubman. They had a son, Jack Paris Brinkley, born in 1995. This marriage ended in 1995. In 1994, Christie survived a helicopter crash during a ski trip. This caused her hip pain for years. She had a full hip replacement in 2021.

Her fourth marriage was to architect Peter Halsey Cook in 1996. They had one daughter, Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook, born in 1998. Sailor has also become a model. Christie and Peter Cook separated in 2006.

Christie Brinkley's Interests

Brinkley throws an autographed football during a USO show in Bosnia and Herzegovina (December 22, 1999)

Christie Brinkley lives on Long Island in Sag Harbor, New York. She and her children are big fans of the New York Islanders ice hockey team. She has even done promotions for the team.

Christie is also very involved in activism. She has given money to organizations and candidates of the Democratic Party. She also campaigned against restarting a nuclear reactor at the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Brinkley strongly supports animal rights. She works with PETA. She has spoken out against circuses that use animals. She became a vegetarian when she was 13 years old. She even convinced her whole family to become vegetarians!

Christie Brinkley's Awards and Achievements

December 1999, during a Christmas visit to the USO

• Top Picks (1993): Rolling Stone magazine honored her for her artwork on Billy Joel's album River of Dreams.
• Merit Award (2001): Given by USO-The United Service Organizations Inc. Christie traveled with the USO to entertain peacekeeping forces.
• Spirit of Achievement Award (2003): Given by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine for her charity work.
• Christie Brinkley Scholarship (2007): Established at The Ross School in East Hampton. This scholarship helps students interested in art or environmental sciences.
• Heart Award: From the American Heart Association for helping children live healthier lives.
• Humanitarian Award: Given by March of Dimes for her work to improve babies' health.
• Mother of the Year: Awarded by The National Mothers Day committee.
• Merit Award: From the Make-A-Wish Foundation in New York.
• America's Mothers and Shakers: Named by Redbook Magazine for her work with "STAR — Standing for Truth About Radiation."
• HBA's Positively Beautiful Award: For her work with the charity Smile Train.
• Mothers Who Make A Difference Award (2011): For balancing motherhood, work, and causes.
• Broadway Beacon Award (2012): For her role as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago.
• Honor by the South Fork Natural History Museum (2012): For raising awareness about nuclear radiation and ocean safety.
• 2013 Pet Hero Award, Humanitarian of the Year: For her strong support for animals, the environment, and wildlife.
• 2018 FN Style Influencer of the Year: Along with her daughters Alexa and Sailor.

Christie Brinkley's Filmography

Images for kids

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  Brinkley at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival

See also

In Spanish: Christie Brinkley para niños