People who grew up in the 1970s have fond memories of Bo Derek. Known for her golden hair, blue eyes, and iconic braided hairstyles, she was considered one of the most beautiful stars of her time. Since her short-lived fame, many have been curious about her life—where she went, why she left acting, and what she’s up to now.
Here’s an update on Bo Derek’s current life and a look back at her early years.
Before she became known as Bo Derek, Mary Cathleen Collins was born on November 20, 1956, in Long Beach, California. She grew up in a typical American household with working-class parents—her mother was a makeup artist, and her father was a sales executive. As a teenager, Mary had two main interests. She had a deep love for horses and competed in many events, showing off her skills. She was also passionate about acting and decided to take classes to improve her abilities.
Bo appeared in the 1977 film *Orca*, where a killer whale bites off her leg. However, she became famous mainly for her role in Blake Edwards’ 1979 film *10*, where her blonde braided hair became iconic. After that, she moved away from action films, starring in movies like *Ghosts Can’t Do It* (1990), *Bolero* (1984), and *Tarzan, The Ape Man* (1981).
Bo met director John Derek when she was just 16, while he was still married to Linda Evans. They started dating a few years later and had to travel to Mexico and Europe to avoid strict American rules.
John and Bo Derek got married when he was 48 and she was 19. In an interview, Bo admitted she often felt guilty when Linda Evans was around, saying she felt partly responsible for Linda’s pain. Bo mentioned that Linda was always kind and that seeing her again made her feel bad about the past.
After their marriage, John and Bo started working together on films. John encouraged Bo to show off her body to add interest to his low-budget movies. This approach drew attention to his films and mostly to Bo, who was becoming a well-known Hollywood figure.
John Derek came up with the braided hairstyle for Bo’s famous movie *10*. Although he didn’t direct or create the film, he suggested that Bo show some photos of the hairstyle to Blake Edwards for his opinion. Bo agreed, saying that she thought the braided look would be great for her and that John was a talented photographer. John encouraged her to try the hairstyle and show the photos to Blake, believing it would suit her and fit the role perfectly.
Sadly, John Derek died from heart disease in 1998 at the age of 71. Bo Derek said she never thought she would reconnect with anyone after his death because she was so devastated by the loss.
Bo’s love for horseback riding was important to her, even more so than her acting career. Despite her success in acting, she chose to leave it behind to become an activist. She focused on animal welfare and worked hard to protect and preserve animals.
Bo Derek isn’t just an animal lover; she also received an honorary position as the National Rehabilitation Special Events chair from the VA. She said that these events help veterans heal and improve their independence and quality of life. Bo feels honored and touched to support this important cause for America’s veterans.
Bo is now married to John Corbett, who starred in *Sex and the City*. They’ve been together for over 20 years and chose to keep their wedding private, only sharing it with their closest friends and family.