Bo was one of four children. Her father, Paul, was a boat salesman. Her mother, Norma Bass, was a hair and make-up artist.
Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1979" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol 31. [1979]
Mentioned in the theme song of the 1980s TV hit "The Fall Guy".
Stepdaughter of stuntman Bobby Bass.
Did fund raising work for now President Bush during the 2000 election.
Turned down the Jessica Lange role in the 1976 remake of King Kong.
Measurements: 32-22-32 (at age 16 as Mary Collins), 35-23 1/2-35 1/2 (while filminge "10"), 37C-22-34 (in 1983), 38-22-36 (as reported in 1985), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Attended Nathaniel Narbonne High School in Harbor City 1974
Bo Derek Detailed Biography
Born November 20th, 1956 in Long Beach, CA., Bo is the oldest of four children, followed by her brother, and two sisters. Christened Mary Cathleen Collins, she was known as Cathleen or Cathy in this Irish/German/Dutch-California family.
Recently, in Santa Barbara Harbor, Bo was rigging a Hobie Cat Sport to sail and someone remarked this was no problem for Cathy as she's always been really athletic and a great sailor. Turns out these were some old friends from the days her father worked in advertising for Hobie. Bo describes her father's connection to Hobie as just one of his fun jobs, "He took care to find jobs which involved the 'toys' he liked, so he was always bringing home prototypes to try out. "To us kids, it was great fun. As a teenager I wasn't very ambitious and had no big plans. I certainly never dreamed of going into films, my main interest was the beach and I assumed I'd end up working in a surf shop."
While growing up, people often told Bo she should be a model. Being blonde, blue-eyed and straight featured is certainly a formula for pretty. Modeling didn't particularly interest Bo at first until she figured the money would help buy a new surfboard! At 15 Bo got a modeling job in Hawaii where her dad was working with a boat company. She was a natural. She had years of experience being photographed playing with the new sailboat or dirt bike or whatever her father was advertising at the time. Next came a TV commercial advertising a deodorant, a speaking part - three words. Soon afterwards, backstage at one of Ann-Margret's shows in Las Vegas, Bo met a theatrical agent. "You should be in movies", he told her and signed her up...
