BETHPAGE, NY — He was one of the most handsome leading men of the fifties. She was propelled to stardom in a film where she launched a major fashion trend. With more than thirty years between them, they defied doubters and their marriage lasted for more than twenty years. On Monday, March 5, at 8:30 PM (ET), WE: WOMEN’S ENTERTAINMENT will present an in-depth look at the marriage of John and Bo Derek in the original series GREAT ROMANCES .
Though film clips, interviews, photos and documentary footage, GREAT ROMANCES will profile the relationship of John and Bo in the series that
recounts legendary love affairs of prominent public figures. John Derek was
born in 1926 as Derek Harris to a mother who was an actress and a father who was a writer/director. Derek wanted to be an artist, but his first role as an extra in the film, SINCE YOU WENT AWAY starring Shirley Temple and Jennifer Jones led him into the world of show business. His notable film roles were as “Joshua” In Cecil B. DeMille’s THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, and in KNOCK ON ANY DOOR with Humphrey Bogart , SATURDAY’S HERO with Donna Reed and EXODUS.
John was married three times before he met Bo. His wives were Patti Behr and actresses Ursula Andress and Linda Evans. But in 1972 he met and fell in love with Mary Kathleen Collins, who was only 16 years old. Mary, who would be later known as Bo, made her first film in John Derek’s FANTASIES.
After the filming in Greece, they began their relationship. John became Bo’s sevengali, encouraging her to read, become better educated and transformed her into a glamorous star. They married when Bo was only 18, thirty years his junior. Bo became an overnight star when she starred as Dudley Moore’s fantasy woman in the hit film, “10.” Movie offers came flooding in and Bo went on to make A CHANGE OF SEASONS with Anthony Hopkins and Shirley MacLaine, followed by the John Derek produced TARZAN, THE APE MAN and BOLERO.
The couple retreated to their ranch in Santa Ynez, California, and made one last film, GHOSTS CAN