Bo Derek

Born Mary Cathleen Collins on November 20, 1956, in Long Beach, California, Bo Derek began her career as a child model. Her mother, Norma White, worked as a make-up artist and hairdresser, and her father, Paul Collins, was a Hobie Cat executive. A significant turning point in her early life came in 1972 at age 16 when she auditioned for ‘Once Upon a Love’, a film directed by John Derek. This engagement led to her relationship and eventual marriage to John Derek in 1976, and she adopted the professional name Bo Derek. Her cinematic breakthrough arrived in 1979 with the romantic comedy ’10’, where her performance as Jenny Hanley earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for New Star of the Year – Actress. This role widely established her as a prominent figure in entertainment and a sex symbol of the era.

Throughout the 1980s, Derek starred in several films directed by her husband, including ‘Fantasies’ (1981), ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man’ (1981), ‘Bolero’ (1984), and ‘Ghosts Can’t Do It’ (1989). While these films received varying critical reception, ‘Tarzan, the Ape Man’ notably achieved box-office success, becoming the 15th highest-grossing film of 1981. Her career expanded to include roles in films like ‘Tommy Boy’ (1995), for which she received a Golden Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actress, and television appearances in series such as ‘Fashion House’ (2006) and ‘CSI: Miami’ (2012). Her work also includes guest roles on shows like ‘The Drew Carey Show’ (1999) and ‘7th Heaven’ (2003–2005), demonstrating a consistent presence across different genres.

Beyond her acting career, Bo Derek has been active in various philanthropic endeavors and advocacy. She has served as Honorary Chairperson for Veterans Affairs’ National Rehabilitation Special Events since 2000, supporting disabled veterans. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed her to the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. She is also a long-standing WildAid ambassador, focusing on wildlife preservation, and was named Special Envoy of the Secretary of State for Wildlife Tracking Issues in 2006. Her dedication to animal welfare extends to horses, leading to her appointment as a commissioner of the California Horse Racing Board by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008 and her role as a spokesperson for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.