Bo Derek was born Mary Cathleen Collins on November 20, 1956, Long Beach, California and is an American film actress and model of Irish, German and Dutch descent.


Bo Derek was married to an actor 30 years older, John Derek, from 1974 until his death in 1998. They met during filming of a movie, and subsequently, John Derek filed for divorce from his wife, actress Linda Evans.


Bo Derek appeared in Orca: the Killer Whale (1977), in which her character's (Annie) leg was bitten off when the whale attacked her home on a pier.


Bo Derek co-starred in the 1979 Blake Edwards film 10, in which Bo Derek vied with a foul-mouthed Julie Andrews for Dudley Moore's attention. Bo Derek's appearance in the popular sex farce shot her to instant stardom and status as a sex symbol.


The plotline of 10 involves a woman who seems better-than-perfect to the protagonist (Moore), until he actually gets to know her and realizes she cannot live up to his expectations. Subsequent films have not been well-received by either the public or critics. The 1981 film Tarzan, the Ape Man was a disappointment. The producers of the film were actually sued by the Edgar Rice Burroughs Estate over the name of the film, since it focused more on how many ways to disrobe Jane (Derek's role), than on Tarzan himself.

Follow up:

The sex-drenched Bolero (1984) essentially ended any possibility of a substantial film career. Critics and viewers looked carefully at the scenes of actual intercourse to spot a body double for Bo Derek, and found none.


Bo Derek subsequent role in her husband's production Ghosts Can't Do It firmly cemented her reputation as a sex object.


Bolero and Tarzan, the Ape Man earned her the dubious honor of four Golden Raspberry Awards, as well as a nomination in 2000 as the "Worst Actress of the Century". Bo Derek's most respectable showing was as Jamie Kennedy's mom and Ryan O'Neal's wife in Malibu's Most Wanted (2003).


Bo Derek is a conservative Republican who supported George H.W. Bush and campaigned for his son, George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, and Bo Derek appeared at both Republican conventions. Bo Derek also appeared at public events with conservative Republican and staunch defender of traditional family values, Congressman David Dreier of Southern California.


Currently, Bo Derek lives with her boyfriend, actor John Corbett, in the Santa Ynez Valley, California. Bo Derek published her autobiography on February 5th, 2002 entitled "Riding Lessons, Everything I learned in life I learned from horses."

Acting:


Crusader (2004) (TV) .... Markham
Malibu's Most Wanted (2003) .... Bess Gluckman

Life in the Balance (2001) .... Kathryn Garr
Sunstorm (2001) .... Victoria Warren

Murder at the Cannes Film Festival (2000) (TV) .... Thada Pryce
Frozen with Fear (2000) .... Katherine Sullivan

Horror 101 (2000) .... Miss Allison James
Wind on Water (1998) TV Series .... Ciel Connolly (1998)

Tommy Boy (1995) .... Beverly Barish, aka Beverly Burns
Shattered Image (1994) (TV) .... Helen Allgood

Woman of Desire (1993) .... Christina Ford
Hot Chocolate (1992) .... BJ Cassidy

Ghosts Can't Do It (1990) .... Katie O'Dare Scott
Bolero (1984) .... Lida MacGillivery

Fantasies (1981) (as Kathleen Collins) .... Anastasia
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) .... Jane Parker

A Change of Seasons (1980) .... Lindsey Rutledge
10 (1979) .... Jenny Hanley

Orca (1977) .... Annie


Producing:


Ghosts Can't Do It (1990) (producer)
Bolero (1984) (producer)

Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) (producer)


On Crew:
Complicated Women (2003) (TV) (additional consultant)