Former Teen Heartthrob Christopher Atkins Gives Advice to Jonas Brothers

By Monica Rizzo

Friday February 06, 2009 05:40 PM EST

Christopher Atkins and the Jonas Brothers

Brian To/FilmMagic; UPI Photo/Landov

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During the summer of 1980 there was arguably no teen star more popular than Christopher Atkins. His movie, The Blue Lagoon, was one of the most buzzed about films of the year and his star power went from zero to sixty after it came out.

"I was recognized all over the planet. Everywhere. It boggled my mind," Atkins, 47 tells PEOPLE in its latest issue. The actor, along with six other former teen idols, examines fame on VH1's Confessions of a Teen Idol.

Looking back on his younger days, Atkins offers a bit of advice to today's heartthrobs, namely the Jonas Brothers.

"I have a saying: He with the most stories wins because if you have stories you've had adventures and if you've had adventures you've lived life," Atkins says. "There is a fleeting aspect to fame … so just live. And even when it's gone, have fun."

For more on Atkins, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.