Christie Brinkley
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person
Christie Lee Brinkley (née Hudson; born February 2, 1954) is an American model.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brinkley appeared on an unprecedented three consecutive covers of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues in 1979, 1980, and 1981. She spent 25 years as the face of CoverGirl;<ref name=NYT2012/> has appeared on over 500 magazine covers; and has signed contracts with major brands, both fashion and non-fashion.
Brinkley went on to work as an actress, illustrator, television personality, author, photographer, writer, designer, and activist for human and animal rights and the environment. Brinkley has been married four times, including to musician Billy Joel between 1985 and 1994, having appeared in several of his music videos. Her fourth marriage, to architect Peter Cook, ended in a much-publicized 2008 divorce. Magazines such as Allure and Men's Health have named Brinkley one of the most attractive women of all time.<ref name="networth">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Early life
Brinkley was born Christie Lee Hudson in Monroe, Michigan, on February 2, 1954,<ref name=NYTMovie>Template:Cite news</ref> the daughter of Marjorie (née Bowling) and Herbert Hudson.
Her family moved to Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, where her mother Marjorie later met and married television writer Donald Brinkley in Bel Air, Los Angeles. Donald adopted Christie and her brother Greg Brinkley. During this time, the family lived in Malibu and then the Brentwood neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Brinkley was educated at Paul Revere Junior High School and attended Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles from 9th to 12th grade.<ref name="danshamptons">Template:Cite web</ref>
After graduation in 1972, she moved to Paris to study art.<ref name=NYTMovie/><ref name=Megawatt>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Career
Career beginnings
Brinkley was discovered in 1973 by American photographer Errol Sawyer in a post office in Paris.<ref name=danshamptons/> He took her first modeling pictures and introduced her to John Casablancas of Elite Model Management agency in Paris.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Brinkley stated later: "I was basically a surfer girl from California. I never looked like a model."<ref name=Megawatt/> After being introduced to Elite, where Brinkley met the fashion photographers Patrick Demarchelier and Mike Reinhardt<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who called Eileen Ford and told her about Brinkley,<ref name=danshamptons /> she returned to California, and by the end of a lunch meeting with Nina Blanchard (Eileen Ford affiliate in Los Angeles) she had been booked for three national ad campaigns.<ref name=Megawatt/>
Breakthrough and continued success
Multiple appearances on the cover of Glamour soon followed, along with a record 25-year contract with cosmetics brand CoverGirl,<ref name=NYT2012/> one of the longest modeling contracts in history.<ref name=Megawatt/><ref name="pa&c">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2005, CoverGirl again signed Brinkley, using her in ads in magazines and TV commercials for mature skin products.<ref name=NYMagProfile>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1989, Brinkley was, along with Cheryl Tiegs and Beverly Johnson, one of the three models featured as dolls produced by Matchbox Toys called The Real Model Collection.
Brinkley appeared on three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers (1979,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 1980,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and 1981<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>) – the first time that had happened – and appeared in the publication's annual swimsuit issues and television specials for years to follow.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Brinkley was featured exclusively in the first Sports Illustrated Calendar and also released two of her own calendars.<ref name=Morris>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2005, Brinkley was featured in the special Sports Illustrated 40th Anniversary Issue's Hall of Fame, celebrating the most revered figures in the magazine's history and again in 2014, in the 50th Anniversary The Legends.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
As an editorial model, Brinkley has appeared on over 500 magazine covers,<ref name="NYT2012">Template:Cite news</ref> including US, Vogue, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and the best-selling issue of Life. She has held major contracts with Chanel No. 19, Prell, MasterCard, Breck, Diet Coke, Anheuser-Busch, Got Milk?, Healthy Choice, Max Factor, Nissan, Noxzema, Revlon, Clairol, Borghese Cosmetics, Danskin, Nu Skin, Yardley of London, Halston, Vogue Patterns, Gottex and Black Velvet, among others.<ref name="Morris" /><ref name="website" /> Brinkley has been photographed in six continents in more than 30 countries.<ref name="NYT2012" />
Acting and television appearances
Brinkley played her first acting role in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation as "The girl in the red Ferrari" opposite Chevy Chase. She reprised that role in the 1997 sequel Vegas Vacation;<ref name=NYTfilmography/> later spoofed it in a 2008 DirecTV commercial, using footage from Vacation;<ref name=etonline>Template:Cite web</ref> again in a 2015 Infiniti commercial as the wife in the Infiniti (the blonde in the convertible for this spoof is model Scarlett Burke); and again in the ABC series The Goldbergs in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2011, she appeared as herself in the documentary King of the Hamptons, which was produced by filmmaker Dennis Michael Lynch. The film premiered at the 2010 Hamptons International Film Festival.
Brinkley's appearance on NBC's Mad About You was the broadcaster's highest-rated half-hour episode since the finale of The Cosby Show.<ref name=Morris/> She hosted Celebrity Weddings InStyle, the highest-rated special in Lifetime's history. Brinkley appeared on the Today Show in 1983 in a four-part segment featuring beauty tips and, in 1992, began her own television series Living in the 90s — With Christie Brinkley, a daily half-hour show on CNN.<ref name=NYT1992>Template:Cite news</ref>
Brinkley made further television appearances, including Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue television specials<ref name=NYTfilmography>Template:Cite news</ref> and music videos for beau Billy Joel ("Uptown Girl", "Keeping the Faith", "All About Soul", "River of Dreams", "A Matter of Trust" and "Leningrad") and Mick Jones's "Just Wanna Hold".<ref name=website>Template:Cite web</ref> She had a recurring role as Gayle Gergich, the wife of Jerry Gergich, on NBC's Parks and Recreation.<ref name="EW-Parks-and-Rec">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In December 2012, Brinkley co-hosted Anderson Live and also danced with Dancing With the Stars alumnus Gilles Marini during the show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On April 8, 2011, in New York, Brinkley made her stage debut as Roxie Hart in the long-running musical Chicago. In August, she completed a one-month engagement in the London's production at Cambridge Theatre and reprised the role on Broadway and continued with 182 total performances with the National Touring Company of Chicago in cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston and Hartford.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2019, Brinkley reprised the Roxie Hart role in Chicago at the Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas.
On August 5, 2019, it was reported by Deadline that Brinkley would have a guest role on the season 7 premiere of the ABC television series The Goldbergs playing a character named Aleah Welsh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, Brinkley was announced as one of the celebrities to compete on the 28th season of Dancing with the Stars. However, sometime before the premiere, she suffered injuries to her wrist and arm that required emergency surgery. As a result, her daughter Sailor, stepped in her place for the season.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2022, Brinkley competed in season seven of The Masked Singer as "Lemur" of Team Cuddly.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Businesses
Since 1997, Brinkley has appeared with Chuck Norris in a long-running series of cable TV infomercials promoting Total Gym home fitness equipment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=website/> In 2008, Brinkley and Carlon Colker promoted National Family Fitness Day with Xbox 360 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brinkley promotes Christie Brinkley Authentic Skin Care, a line of beauty products,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hair2Wear,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a line of hair extensions, Bellissima Prosecco, an organic sparkling wine label<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Christie Brinkley Eyewear, an eyeglasses eyewear.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Her financial holdings in 2019 were worth an estimated US$80 million,<ref name="networth" /> primarily as the owner of real estate mainly in the Hamptons.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other work
In 1983, Brinkley wrote and illustrated a book on health and beauty, Christie Brinkley's Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Book, which topped The New York Times Best Seller list.<ref name=website/> Brinkley illustrated the cover art for Billy Joel's 1993 triple platinum album River of Dreams. For this, Rolling Stone awarded her the honor of "Best album cover of the year".<ref name=NYMagProfile/> Brinkley has designed clothing patterns for Simplicity Pattern<ref name=NYT1992/> and in March 1994 helped design, for brand Nouveau Eyewear, her line of prescription glasses and sunglasses called Christie Brinkley Perspectives with worldwide sales.<ref name=Morris/><ref name=website/> In Spring 1998 she released her own signature fragrance, Believe.<ref name=Megawatt/> Her jewelry collection is manufactured by Swank.<ref name=Morris/>
Public image
In 1991, Brinkley was considered to have an ideal, all-American look with her blonde hair, blue eyes, slim figure, and soft features, when Allure first conducted a survey taking the pulse of the average American (men and women) searching for their beauty perceptions and preferences.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
In 1998, Playboy readers voted Brinkley one of the 100 Sexiest Women of the 20th century.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Brinkley is ranked third in the AskMen.com Top 10 Supermodels Of All Time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2011, Men's Health named her one of the "100 Hottest Women of All-Time", ranking her at No. 16.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Pop-topia.com named her No. 1 on their list of "10 Hottest Hollywood Women In Their 50s" in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
In November 1975, Brinkley married French artist Jean-François Allaux.<ref name=uptown-girl>Template:Cite book</ref> They divorced in 1981. In 1982, Brinkley had a romantic relationship with Olivier Chandon de Brailles, heir to the Moët-Chandon Champagne fortune. The two met at Studio 54 in New York City at a party promoting a calendar in which Brinkley appeared.<ref name=relacoes>Template:Cite web</ref> Chandon died a year later in a crash at a private pre-season practice session car race.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=Time>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Her second marriage was in 1985 to musician Billy Joel. The two had met in 1983 on the Island of St Barts, in the Caribbean, and were married on March 23, 1985, on a yacht on the Hudson River; it was also Joel's second marriage. Guests included singer Paul Simon and members of the band Stray Cats.<ref name=atlanta>Template:Cite news</ref> The marriage ended in August 1994;<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> they had one child, Alexa Ray Joel, born December 29, 1985.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Brinkley and Billy Joel remain close friends.<ref name=relacoes/>
In 1994, Brinkley was introduced to real estate developer Richard Taubman by a mutual friend. He proposed in May 1994 while she and Billy Joel were still married. She married Taubman on December 22, 1994, in Telluride, Colorado, near the area where they were both in a helicopter crash on April 1, 1994.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Brinkley was 40 and Taubman was 46. She announced at their wedding that they were expecting a baby boy. The marriage ended in 1995 with one son,<ref name=relacoes/> Jack Paris Brinkley, born June 2, 1995.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As a result of the helicopter crash, she suffered years of hip pain, culminating in a full hip replacement in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Brinkley's fourth marriage was in 1996, to architect Peter Halsey Cook. Cook and Brinkley met in 1979 when he was modeling.<ref name="Humphrey">Template:Cite web</ref> They were later reintroduced by a mutual friend and announced their engagement in August 1996.<ref name="Humphrey"/> They married on September 21, 1996.<ref name=EntertainmentTonight>Template:Cite web</ref> They had one child, daughter Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook, born July 2, 1998,<ref name=ChicagoTribune1998>Template:Cite news</ref> with the help of IVF as Brinkley was 44.<ref> https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/pictures/40-plus-and-pregnant-201086 Christie Brinkley used IVF to have daughter Sailor at age 44</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brinkley's representative announced in July 2006 that Brinkley and Peter Cook planned to separate.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The couple reached a settlement in July 2008; accounts differ as to whether divorce was final on September 12, 2008,<ref name="Daily News settlement">Template:Cite news</ref> or October 3, 2008.<ref name=EntertainmentTonight /> In September 2015, it was widely reported that John Mellencamp was in a new relationship with Brinkley.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2016, the couple announced their separation after almost a year of dating.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Interests
Brinkley lives on Long Island in Sag Harbor, New York; she previously lived in Bridgehampton and Amagansett, Long Island.<ref name=NYT1992/><ref name=OpenSecrets/> She and her children are fans of the New York Islanders ice hockey team. Brinkley began doing promotions for the team after being noticed at games.<ref>Template:Cite magazineTemplate:Dead link</ref> In 2007, she showed her support by writing a blog for NHL.com and filming a commercial.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brinkley helped found a club for cutting, an equestrian sport in which a rider has two and a half minutes to cut as many cattle from a herd as he or she can.<ref name=NYT1992/>
Since 1998, Brinkley has given nearly $1,000,000 to organizations and candidates of the Democratic Party of the United States, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, America Coming Together and Moveon.org.<ref name=OpenSecrets>Template:Cite web</ref> In the New York delegation, Brinkley served as a delegate on the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She has also been involved in anti-nuclear activities and campaigned against the restarting of the High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR) located at the Brookhaven National Laboratory.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Brinkley supports animal rights, most notably through the organization PETA,<ref name=NYMagProfile/> having previously spoken out against the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She became a vegetarian when she was 13 years old and then got her entire family to become vegetarians.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Brinkley published her memoir Uptown Girl in April 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards and achievements
- Top Picks, in 1993 by Rolling Stone for the artistic work Brinkley did on the cover of Billy Joel's album River of Dreams.<ref name=Morris/><ref name=website/>
- 2001 Merit Award, given by USO-The United Service Organizations Inc. Brinkley traveled with the USO on goodwill missions to Sarajevo, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Italy entertaining the peacekeeping forces and visiting aircraft carriers and refugee camps. After participating in Secretary of Defense William Cohen's Christmas tour to Kosovo, she was given the award in Washington DC for her efforts on behalf of American troops.<ref name=Morris/><ref name=website/>
- Spirit of Achievement Award, at 2003 by "The Women's Division" of Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University presented Brinkley for her charity work.<ref name=Morris/><ref name=website/>
- Christie Brinkley Scholarship, at February 2007 by The Ross School in East Hampton, Long Island, New York. This scholarship allows students interested in art or environment sciences get four free years at Ross High School.
- Heart Award, special honor from the American Heart Association in the "12th Annual Heart of the Hamptons Gala" for her commitment to helping children live healthier lives. Brinkley said she was very honored to receive the award from the AHA being convinced that the research from the organization made it possible for her mother to be alive after suffering five strokes.<ref name=AHA>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Humanitarian Award, given by March of Dimes. This organization is dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality through research, community services, education and advocacy.<ref name=premios>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Merit Award, by the non-profit USA national organization Mothers Voices which mission is strengthens family communication about sex, sexual health and HIV/AIDS/STD prevention through education and awareness, mobilize parents and caregivers to become their child's frontline sexual health educator.<ref name=Morris/><ref name=mothersvoices>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mother of the Year, given by The National Mothers Day committee at a ceremony held in New York City.<ref name=website/>
- Merit Award, given by Make-A-Wish Foundation in New York. They work granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.<ref name=Morris/><ref name=premios/>
- America's Mothers and Shakers, named by Redbook Magazine for her involvement in "STAR — Standing for Truth About Radiation".<ref name=website/>
- HBA's Positively Beautiful Award, named by HBA Global Expo on behalf of her work with the international charity Smile Train.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Mothers Who Make A Difference Award, given by Love Our Children USA on the 2011 Sixth Annual edition, recognizing and supporting four celebrity moms for balancing motherhood, work and causes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Broadway Beacon Award for her portrayal of Roxie Hart in the hit musical Chicago (June 4, 2012).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Honor by the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center for her many years of work to raise awareness about nuclear radiation and the safety of the oceans (June 16, 2012).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2013 Pet Hero Award, Humanitarian of the Year, by the Pet Philanthropy Circle for her strong advocacy for animals, environment and wildlife.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2018 FN Style Influencer of the Year along with daughters Alexa and Sailor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | National Lampoon's Vacation | The Girl in the Ferrari | |
| 1989 | The All New Mickey Mouse Club | Herself | Episode: "Guest Day" |
| 1994 | Mad About You | Herself | Episode: "Virtual Reality" |
| 1997 | Vegas Vacation | The Girl in the Ferrari | |
| 2009 | Ugly Betty | Penelope Graybridge | Episode: "The Bahamas Triangle" |
| 2011 | Jack and Jill | Herself | |
| 2012–2015 | Parks and Recreation | Gayle Gergich | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Donny! | Herself | Episode: "Foxy at Fifty!" |
| 2017 | Nightcap | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | The Goldbergs | Aleah Welsh | Episode: "Vacation" |
| 2022 | The Masked Singer | Herself/Lemur | Season 7 contestant |
| 2025 | Dexter: Resurrection | Herself | Episode: "And Justice for All..." |
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- 1954 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Michigan
- Actresses from New York (state)
- American anti–nuclear power activists
- American expatriates in France
- American female models
- American film actresses
- American musical theatre actresses
- American stage actresses
- American television actresses
- Female models from Michigan
- Michigan Democrats
- New York (state) Democrats
- Lycée Français de Los Angeles alumni
- People from Monroe, Michigan
- People from Sag Harbor, New York
- Philanthropists from Michigan
- Philanthropists from New York (state)
- Joel family (show business)
- Survivors of aviation accidents or incidents