Christopher Atkins, once a teenage heartthrob best known for starring opposite Brooke Shields in the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon, was recently spotted in Southport, Connecticut—marking a rare public appearance for the now 64-year-old actor.

Atkins shot to fame at 18 in The Blue Lagoon, a romantic survival drama infamous for its nudity and the controversy surrounding Shields’ age—just 14 at the time. Despite critical backlash, the film was a box office hit, grossing nearly $59 million. While body doubles were used for Shields, Atkins appeared fully nude in several scenes, cementing his image as a Hollywood sex symbol.

He embraced that image by posing nude for Playgirl in 1982 and taking the lead in The Pirate Movie, a musical that flopped with critics. His acting career never fully took off, though he found modest success with a recurring role on Dallas and occasional TV guest spots.

Atkins later opened up about struggling with alcoholism during his career downturn but has been sober for over 20 years. He married Australian model Lyn Barron in 1985, and they have two children. Outside of acting, he’s pursued other ventures—including designing fishing lures and building swimming pools.

In recent years, he’s reconnected with Shields, appearing on her podcast in 2022 to reflect on their complicated Blue Lagoon experience. Shields joked about being pushed into a romance for publicity’s sake, and Atkins agreed, saying the innocence between them added something real to the film.

Now sporting platinum blond hair, Atkins recently returned to the cover of Playgirl, four decades after his first shoot. Though no longer in the spotlight, he remains active in indie film—with five projects in the works, according to IMDb.

From teen idol to quiet survivor, Atkins seems content living life on his own terms—fame in the rearview, but not forgotten.