Christopher Atkins claims his drinking cost him the lead role in "Footloose," which ultimately went to Kevin Bacon.The "Blue Lagoon" actor looked back at his career during a recent appearance at Fanboy Expo Knoxville in Tennessee, which celebrates pop culture and nostalgia, People magazine reported.According to the outlet, the 65-year-old actor said filmmakers behind the 1984 classic wanted to meet with him before making their final casting decision, but he wasn't able to pull it off.BRAT PACK ICON ANDREW MCCARTHY SAYS DRINKING 'DERAILED MY CAREER ENTIRELY'Christopher Atkins (left), who starred opposite Brooke Shields (center) in 1980's "The Blue Lagoon," recently told a panel at the Fanboy Expo Knoxville that he lost the lead role in 1984's "Footloose" to Kevin Bacon (right) because his drinking cost him an important meeting with the filmmakers.(Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images; CBS via Getty Images)"I was a mess back then," he told the panel, as quoted by People.
"I was partying it up way too much, and they called me in.""I said ...'I can't go in right now.
I've been drinking and carrying on,'" Atkins recalled."And they said, 'No, they need to see you.' And I went in, and I just blew that audition ...
I mean, it wasn't even an audition — I had the part, but I was so messed up that they said, 'Yeah, we're going to have to pass on this guy.'"Atkins was offered the role of Ren in "Footloose," after making his on-screen debut alongside Brooke Shields in "The Blue Lagoon." (Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)"And I'm almost 40 years sober, so there you go," Atkins added.WATCH: CHRISTOPHER ATKINS LOOKS BACK AT ‘THE BLUE LAGOON’ AND ‘DALLAS’The actor also reflected on his breakout role in "The Blue Lagoon" during the discussion.The former teen heartthrob was just 18 when he was cast in the 1980 movie opposite Brooke Shields."I'd never done anything before," Atkins explained.
"Never wanted to be an actor — I only wanted to play baseball.That was my dream."Kevin B...