Bo Derek may have taken her time to marry her current husband, John Corbett, waiting nearly two decades, but her first marriage was a completely different story. She wasted no time tying the knot with her first husband, the late actor, filmmaker, and photographer John Derek, just after turning 18. Let’s dive into the life and legacy of Bo’s first husband, a man who shaped her career and personal life in profound ways.
Closer magazine takes us on a journey through Bo’s first marriage with John Derek, exploring the highs and lows of their relationship that lasted until his passing in 1998.
Who Was John Derek and What Made Him Famous?
John Derek, born Derek Delevan Harris on August 12, 1926, didn’t start out as a Hollywood star but quickly made a name for himself after returning from World War II. It was legendary actor Humphrey Bogart who gave him the stage name John Derek and cast him in his breakout role as Nick “Pretty Boy” Romano in the 1949 film Knock on Any Door. From there, his star only rose higher.
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John’s career skyrocketed with iconic roles in films like All the King’s Men (1949), Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950), The Ten Commandments (1956), and Exodus (1960). But despite his success on screen, John was candid about his feelings toward acting. According to the Cinema Shorthand Society, he once admitted, “I was never into acting. Even if they’d given me the greatest role in the world, it wouldn’t have made a difference. I used to tell the directors of my films, ‘I’m not an actor, but I’ll show up on time and know my lines.’”
Over the course of 13 films, John stuck to his one-take philosophy, leaving directors with little choice but to accept his unique approach. He eventually transitioned into photography and directing, creating memorable works such as Once Before I Die, Childish Things, Tarzan, the Ape Man, Bolero, Ghosts Can’t Do It, and Fantasies, the latter of which starred Bo and was released in 1981, years after it was filmed in 1973.
John Derek’s Love Life Before Bo Derek
John Derek wasn’t just known for his work in Hollywood; his personal life also made headlines. Before meeting Bo, he had been married three times. His first marriage was to ballerina Pati Behrs Eristoff in 1948. Together, they welcomed two children: a son, the late Russell Andre, and a daughter, Sean Catherine. However, the couple divorced in 1956.
The following year, John married Ursula Andress, years before she became famous as the Bond girl in Dr. No. But their marriage didn’t last, and they divorced in 1966. Two years later, he eloped with actress Linda Evans in Mexico, but their union was short-lived. John began an affair with Bo during the filming of a movie, prompting Linda to file for divorce in 1974.
How Did John Derek and Bo Derek Meet?
Their story began when John cast Bo, then known as Mary Cathleen Collins, at the age of 16 in his movie Fantasies, originally titled And Once Upon a Time. Despite the 30-year age gap and John’s marriage to Linda Evans at the time, their on-set chemistry blossomed into an affair while filming in Greece, according to Interview magazine. To avoid statutory rape laws, they remained in Europe until Bo turned 18, then returned to the United States.
Looking back on this period, Bo expressed regret in a 2016 interview with Interview. “I feel terrible about it,” she confessed. “John was married to Linda [Evans] at the time, whom I worshipped and adored, and who was so kind to me. And then, when all this happened, I was at least halfway responsible for some serious pain she went through.”
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