The Exciting Life of 80s Icon Bo Derek

Bo became the star and one of the producers of Tarzan, the Ape Man, released in 1981. John Derek served as director and cinematographer, giving the couple extensive control over how the adventure was filmed and how Bo appeared on screen.

Unlike many earlier Tarzan stories, this version placed Jane Parker at the center while Miles O’Keeffe’s Tarzan had relatively little dialogue. The project was designed as a major showcase for Bo, combining romance, exotic locations, and animal encounters. However, working so closely with real wildlife soon made the production far more dangerous than expected.