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Bo Derek
American actress (born 1956) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bo Derek (born Mary Cathleen Collins, November 20, 1956)[1] is an American actress. She began her career as a child model before deciding to pursue acting on the advice of a talent agent she met through the actress Ann-Margret, who was acquainted with both of her parents.[2] In 1972,[3] she auditioned for a role in the romantic drama film Once Upon a Love (1973), which was directed by her future first husband, John Derek, and eventually released as Fantasies in 1981.[4] In addition to Fantasies, she went on to star in three more John Derek-directed films: Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), Bolero (1984), and Ghosts Can't Do It (1989), all of which were critically panned.
Bo Derek | |
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![]() Derek in 2022 | |
Born | Mary Cathleen Collins (1956-11-20) November 20, 1956 (age 67) Long Beach, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1973–present |
Notable work |
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Spouses | |
Relatives | Sean Catherine Derek (stepdaughter) |
Derek's breakthrough performance came from her portrayal of Jenny Hanley in the romantic comedy film 10 (1979), which cemented her status as a sex icon and mainstream celebrity. The role earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for New Star of the Year – Actress. Derek's other credits include the dramatic-comedy film A Change of Seasons (1980), the American buddy comedy film Tommy Boy (1995), and the American telenovela series Fashion House (2006).
Derek has been involved in a number of philanthropic endeavors. For several years, she served as Honorary Chairperson for Veterans Affairs' National Rehabilitation Special Events,[5][6] which helps disabled veterans overcome their limitations through sports and competition. In 2002, she was appointed to the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees by former President George W. Bush.[7] A longtime WildAid ambassador,[8][9] Derek was named Special Envoy of the Secretary of State for Wildlife Tracking Issues by former Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick in 2006.[10] In 2008, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Derek as a commissioner of the California Horse Racing Board[11][12] in honor of her many contributions to the betterment of horses, including her position as a spokesperson for the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, which she had held since 2003.[11][12][13] She was reappointed to the CHRB in 2010[13] and 2014.[14]
Widowed in 1998,[15] Derek began a relationship with actor John Corbett in 2002.[16] They were married in December 2020.[16]