A couple of weeks ago, I finally moved in with my husband, which was supposed to be the beginning of a wonderful chapter in our lives. I had no idea that my husband’s 15-year-old son from a previous marriage, named Dave, would prove to be a difficult obstacle to overcome. Though I knew there would be some period of adaptation, I did not expect such an attitude towards my efforts to make the house our cozy place in the form of piles of garbage that Dave, as if on purpose, left scattered throughout the house.
At first, I thought it was a temporary situation, perhaps a teenager’s version of chaos. But days turned into weeks, and the mess only seemed to grow. Empty chip bags, crumpled papers, and discarded clothes adorned every corner of our once-pristine home. It was as if a tornado of teenage negligence had swept through, leaving behind a debris field that would shock even a loving mother.
My comments and requests for cleanliness had no effect on him at all. It was like talking to a wall. I wanted to stop this and somehow decided to act outside the box.
One day, when Dave left for school, I came up with a plan. I was going to defeat this trash invasion, which required a strategy that went beyond mere words. Wandering around the house, armed with trash bags and determination, I picked up every piece of clutter that had settled into our home. I was on a mission to teach Dave a lesson in responsibility.
His room, the center of chaos, was my first target. When I walked in, I was greeted by clothes strewn across the floor, a maze of crumpled papers, and a collection of half-empty soda cans. Without pleasure, but with a feeling of determination, I began to put all the items that were scattered in garbage bags. Papers, cans, his clothes, everything was packed into the bags together. In the end, the room gradually turned from a disaster zone into something resembling order. I packed all the scattered clothes with other trash in a bags.
A similar fate befell the living room, kitchen, and even the bathroom. It was a time-consuming task, but I was sure that if words could not reach him, perhaps these bags would show him how much of a mess he left behind.
70s’ heartthrob Christopher Atkins disappeared from the spotlight – see him now at 63
The actor who once stole hearts in The Blue Lagoon has resurfaced, looking very different from his teenage days – with silver hair and lines etched into his face, his transformation reflects a life fully
lived.
Away from Hollywood’s limelight, he faced struggles that nearly broke him, but today, he’s embraced a quieter life.
Let’s look at the twists and turns of his journey, from battling alcoholism to bankruptcy, and where he stands now…
Christopher Atkins, the former Blue Lagoon star, skyrocketed to fame over four decades ago, largely due to his role in the iconic 1980 film. Although acting was not his initial dream, fate had other plans.
Born in New York, Atkins grew up aspiring to become a professional baseball player, but a knee injury ended his athletic ambitions. Instead of heading to the baseball field, he found himself teaching sailing and trying his hand at modeling. A fateful audition led to his breakthrough as Richard in The Blue Lagoon, a role that would change his life forever.
Atkins was chosen from among 4,000 hopefuls for the part, a testament to his undeniable on-screen charisma, Now to Love detailed. The film, co-starring Brooke Shields, told the story of two teenagers stranded on a tropical island and quickly became a box-office sensation.
One of the first mainstream movies to feature male nudity, it was an intimidating experience for the young actor, but his performance captured audiences worldwide.
Following his success in The Blue Lagoon, Atkins went on to star in The Pirate Movie, where he met Australian model Lyn Barron.
Reminiscing on their whirlwind romance, he shared: “It was love at first sight, and six months later we were married. We went on to have two kids, Grant and Brittany.” However, the glamorous Hollywood life came with a darker side.
As Atkins’ career progressed, the pressures of fame began to weigh heavily. Constant travel, extravagant parties, and high expectations led him down a dangerous path of alcoholism.
Although the family had settled in Los Angeles, their seemingly perfect life unraveled when Atkins discovered that his former manager had embezzled nearly half a million dollars from him. The financial betrayal left the star nearly bankrupt, leading to an alcohol-fueled breakdown in 1986. Reflecting on that challenging period, he admitted to Lifestyle Magazine: “There is nothing worse than having your whole life pulled out from under you.
His turning point came after a heated argument with his wife, which prompted his parents to step in. Atkins entered rehab for 28 days to confront his addiction. After completing treatment, he emerged with a new perspective on life. “I came out of there realizing that I wanted to be a dad more than I wanted to be a drunk,” he said. Despite his efforts, his marriage couldn’t survive the strain of his struggles. “Sadly, the marriage didn’t last, but we remain genuinely great friends,” he added.
Atkins has now been sober for over 30 years, a milestone he takes pride in. He made a conscious effort to be a devoted father, focusing on his children, Grant and Brittany. Grant pursued baseball, chasing the dream his father once had, while Brittany ventured into acting, appearing in British children’s films, including one written by her father.
While Atkins continued to work in film and television, he longed for another major box office hit like The Blue Lagoon. “I consider myself an actor, that’s what I’ve done for 43 years… I still, to this day, dream of being in an ‘A’ movie again,” he revealed.
Outside of his career, Atkins remains hopeful about love. Having been married for 20 years and experienced other relationships, he still seeks a partner who shares his zest for life. “I want a woman, obviously no drama, I’m too old for that. A woman who loves to laugh, can be spontaneous…has to be open,” he shared, per Page Six.
Now a grandfather to three boys, Atkins finds immense joy in his role. “I take them snake hunting, we go camping, fishing, play ball, wrestle all the time, we have a blast. They’re so much fun,” he said.
Christopher Atkins’ transformation is a true testament to his resilience – what an inspiration to us all!
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