Bo Derek's Real Name: Mary Cathleen Collins

Quick answer: Bo Derek's real name is Mary Cathleen Collins. She is an American actress, born in Long Beach, California, later known for the 1979 film 10. Encyclopedia.com dates the birth to November 20, 1956; Interview magazine dates it to 1959.

Real name and early life

She is known professionally as Bo Derek. Because Encyclopedia.com and Interview magazine independently record the birth name Mary Cathleen Collins, that form is used in the title. Encyclopedia.com dates the birth to November 20, 1956, in Long Beach, California, and says she was raised in Torrance, California. Interview magazine independently places the birth in Long Beach, California, but dates it to 1959 and does not give a month or day. This page records both years rather than choosing one. Encyclopedia.com names her parents as Paul Collins Jr., a sales representative, and Norma Bass, a hair and makeup artist, with some sources it cites giving the mother's name as Norma Jean White. Interview magazine says she made up the name Bo around the time she met director John Derek, when he cast her, then 16, in his movie Fantasies.

Career highlights

Encyclopedia.com lists early film credits including Fantasies (also known as Once Upon a Time) in 1973 and Orca, the Killer Whale in 1977, and identifies her role in Blake Edwards's 1979 film 10 as Jenny Hanley. It says she received a 1980 Golden Globe nomination for female new star of the year in a motion picture for that film. Interview magazine independently describes the 1979 film 10 as a blockbuster that left a lasting image of Derek on screen. Encyclopedia.com also lists later credits including A Change of Seasons (1980), Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), a 1981 credit as Kathleen Collins in Fantasies (also known as Once Upon a Love), Bolero (1984), and Ghosts Can't Do It (1990). Interview magazine independently says John Derek went on to direct her in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), Bolero (1984), and Ghosts Can't Do It (1990). This page records Encyclopedia.com's two Fantasies listings, with their different aka titles and years, separately from Interview magazine's single reference to Fantasies.

Encyclopedia.com dates her marriage to John Derek to 1974 and his death to May 22, 1998. Interview magazine describes their meeting on Fantasies and later life together, including time in Santa Ynez, but does not independently give the 1974 marriage date used by Encyclopedia.com.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Bo Derek or Mary Cathleen Collins are looking for the same American actress. Independent sources support the birth name used in the title. Encyclopedia.com also lists Kathleen Collins among credit name forms.