Bo Derek may have waited almost two decades to marry her current husband, John Corbett, but she wasted no time tying the knot with her first husband, John Derek. It happened just after she turned 18. Let's take a closer look at Bo's first marriage with the late actor, filmmaker, and photographer, a man who was a significant part of her life until his passing in 1998.
Now, if you're wondering who this John Derek guy was and what made him tick, let's dive into the details. Stick with me as we explore the highs and lows of their relationship and the impact it had on both of their lives.
Who Was John Derek and What Made Him Famous?
Born Derek Delevan Harris on August 12, 1926, John's journey to fame began after he returned from serving in World War II. The legendary Humphrey Bogart played a pivotal role in his career, giving him the stage name John Derek and casting him as Nick “Pretty Boy” Romano in the 1949 film Knock on Any Door. This was just the beginning for John, as he went on to star in a string of unforgettable films.
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Some of his most memorable roles came in All the King’s Men (1949), Rogues of Sherwood Forest (1950), The Ten Commandments (1956), and Exodus (1960). Despite his success on the big screen, John wasn't exactly thrilled with acting. He once admitted to the Cinema Shorthand Society that he "was never into" acting, saying, "If they’d given me the greatest role in the world, it wouldn’t have helped." He even joked about his lack of enthusiasm, explaining, "I used to go to the directors of my films and say, 'I’m not an actor but I’ll turn up on time and know my words.'"
But John didn't let his disdain for acting stop him from pursuing other creative ventures. He eventually transitioned into photography and directing, leaving a lasting impact on the film industry. Some of his notable directing credits include Once Before I Die, Childish Things, Tarzan, the Ape Man, Bolero, Ghosts Can’t Do It, and Fantasies, which starred Bo and was released in 1981, nearly a decade after it was filmed in 1973.
John Derek's Love Life Before Bo Derek
While John carved out a successful career in Hollywood, he was perhaps even more famous for his relationships with some of the most iconic women in showbiz. Before meeting Bo, John had already been married three times. His first marriage was to ballerina Pati Behrs Eristoff in 1948, with whom he had two children: a son, the late Russell Andre, and a daughter, Sean Catherine. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in divorce in 1956.
Just a year later, John tied the knot with Ursula Andress, years before she skyrocketed to fame as a Bond girl in Dr. No. However, their marriage also hit the rocks, leading to a divorce in 1966. Two years later, John eloped with actress Linda Evans in Mexico, but their union was short-lived. Their relationship soured when John began an affair with Bo during the filming of a movie together, prompting Linda to file for divorce in 1974.
How Did John and Bo Derek Meet?
John first crossed paths with Bo, then known as Mary Cathleen Collins, when he cast her at the tender age of 16 in his movie Fantasies, originally titled And Once Upon a Time. Despite being 30 years older and married to Linda at the time, John embarked on an affair with Bo while they were filming in Greece, as reported by Interview magazine. To avoid statutory rape laws, they stayed in Europe until Bo turned 18 and they returned to the United States.
Bo later opened up about the affair in a 2016 Interview magazine article, expressing regret over the situation. She said, "I feel terrible about it. 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." Reflecting further, Bo added, "I was young, yes, but I’ve been thinking about it. I don’t know why I never put it together, being responsible for the breakup of their marriage, but the dots didn’t connect for a while. I just hate myself when I think about doing that. That’s the worst thing you can do. It was very complicated and dramatic, obviously. Some people could say it was meant to be, though, because I was with him until he died. But that just sounds like an excuse to me. It’s still the wrong thing to do."
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