Biography

(info from the Official Baywatch Website)

At 6'4", 185 lbs., David Hasselhoff, a handsome blue/green-eyed Baltimore, Maryland native, is one of the most recognizable faces on television throughout the world. Recently named one of "TV's 10 Most Powerful Stars" by TV Guide, he is also one of the busiest. He is not only the star and executive producer of Baywatch but also an accomplished singer and popular recording artist.

Hasselhoff first came to the attention of the viewing public when he starred as "Dr. Snapper Foster" on CBS's soap opera "The Young & The Restless." In the role for six years, Hasselhoff became one of the most popular leading men on daytime television and earned a huge fan following, many of whom continue to identify him as "Snapper."

Lured by NBC's Brandon Tartikoff to move from daytime to prime time, Hasselhoff left the cast of "The Young & The Restless" and went on to star for four years as "Michael Knight" in NBC's hit series "Knight Rider." The role garnered him a "People's Choice Award" for most popular actor. Though production for "Knight Rider" ended in 1986, the show is still enjoying a national run in repeat airings on the USA Network and has been in strip syndication in more than 100 U.S. markets since the late 1980s. In addition to the show's popularity in America, "Knight Rider" is a smash overseas (where it continues to run in some 82 plus countries) resulting in Hasselhoff's first major international fan following.

The success of "Knight Rider" laid the ground work for Hasselhoff's next foray into episodic television - Baywatch- the hour-long drama series focusing on the adventures of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, which debuted on NBC in 1989. Though it enjoyed good ratings, the network canceled the series after only one season. Undeterred, Hasselhoff and his partners acquired the rights to the show and, based on Hasselhoff's popularity overseas, they were able to secure financing and revive Baywatch in 1991.

Currently in its ninth year of production, Baywatch stars David Hasselhoff as lifeguard "Mitch Buchannon," recently promoted to Captain. The show has become a piece of American pop culture as well as an international television phenomenon. America's top television export, Baywatch is seen in 140 countries by over one billion viewers each week (as estimated by Guinness Book of World Records). The show's amazing international popularity led Entertainment Weekly to proclaim Baywatch as "The Most Popular Television Series in the History of the Planet" in an October 1993 cover story.

Baywatch spawned a spin-off series which Hasselhoff also executive produced and starred in, entitled Baywatch Nights. Baywatch Nights premiered in the United States in September 1995, and allowed fans to glimpse a darker side of "Mitch Buchannon's" life as he and his detective agency partners battled evil forces from this world and beyond.

During his career, Hasselhoff has flexed his acting muscles in numerous other television projects. Scheduled to air on FOX in early 1998, Hasselhoff's most recent role is as Marvel Comics' legendary hero, "Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." Previously, Mace Neufeld and Robert Rehme, producers of such films as CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER and PATRIOT GAMES hired Hasselhoff to star as the hero of "Gridlock" (1996), an action packed made-for-television movie shot on location in Toronto, Canada. Before this, Hasselhoff switched gears to play an evil jewel thief opposite Michael Gross in the FOX movie-of-the-week, "Avalanche" (1994). He has also starred in "The Cartier Affair" with Joan Collins, "Terror on London Bridge," and "The Ring of the Musketeers".

Other successful television performances include Hasselhoff's reprisal of the role of "Michael Knight" in NBC's highly rated Movie-of-the-Week, "Knight Rider 2000." Hasselhoff's lead guest star role in NBC's "Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake" propelled the show to number one in the ratings for the week, and was the network's highest rated MOW for 1989.

Despite his enormous success as an actor, Hasselhoff's childhood dream of being a pop singing star had, by the late 1980s, yet to be fulfilled. However, when he crossed paths with noted German record producer, Jack White, lightning struck and his dream soon became a reality. The timing of the release of their collaboration, the single, "Looking for Freedom," couldn't have been more perfect as the end of the Cold War was to hit central Europe simultaneously -- the song quickly became an anthem for the German people. The single raced to the number one spot on the German charts, where it remained for eight consecutive weeks in 1989.

The album, "Looking for Freedom," hit the top of the German charts as well, staying there for three months. It went gold and triple platinum in Europe while on its way to becoming Germany's number one selling album of the year (Madonna's album was runner-up), as Hasselhoff was named "Most Popular and Best Selling Artist of the Year" in Germany. This honor was followed up by a twenty city standing room only tour, with Hasselhoff playing to well over 250,000 adoring European fans. At this time, Hasselhoff's popularity reached such a fever pitch that two German newspapers ran front page banner headlines screaming "Hasselhoff, Not Since Elvis!" and "Hasselhoff, Not Since The Beatles!" He has toured on two more occasions, in 1992 and 1994, and has since released six more albums in Europe including "You Are Everything," produced by Grammy-winning engineer/producer, Bruce Swedien.

The most thrilling performance of his entire career, however, came when Hasselhoff was invited to perform "Looking for Freedom" live on top of the Berlin Wall, New Year's Eve, 1989. "It was the first time Germany had been unified, and close to a million East and West German fans stood together in the freezing cold at midnight, watching me perform. I was overcome with emotion," said Hasselhoff.

A superstar in Europe, Hasselhoff is now bringing his music home to America. His latest album, "David Hasselhoff," was recently released in the United States, and he premiered the album's single, "Fallin' in Love" during a live performance on "The Tonight Show." During the Fall of 1996, while production for Baywatch was in full swing, Hasselhoff took to the road on weekends and completed a frenetic tour schedule, performing at several state fairs across the country.

In November 1996, Hasselhoff traveled to Taipei and gave a live performance at The Hard Rock Cafe. His performance will be broadcast on the Star Network which carries programming throughout Asia, India and the Middle East to approximately 220 million viewers.

Hasselhoff wrapped up a very busy 1996 by ushering in the Christmas Season as the Grand Marshal of the famed Hollywood Christmas Parade. In November of 1997, upon completion of his eighth season of Baywatch, Hasselhoff traveled to the Philippines to star in the feature film, LEGACY, for Quantum Entertainment.

In addition to his time on the set and in the recording studio, Hasselhoff spends many hours visiting children's hospitals throughout the world. Hasselhoff founded the charity, "Race for Life," which works with terminally ill and handicapped children in Indianapolis. He is also a key participant in "Camp Baywatch," which helps disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles. In addition, he is active with the Starlight Foundation and with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As Hasselhoff says, "God has given me so much, I have to give back."

And how does this busy entrepreneur relax? At home with his beautiful wife, actress Pamela Bach Hasselhoff, and their precious daughters, eight-year-old Taylor-Ann, and six-year-old Hayley Amber. When their hectic schedule permits, the Hasselhoffs enjoy escaping on romantic exotic vacations such as their recent Kenyan photographic safari.

David Hasselhoff is a multi-faceted entertainer, who enjoys his fast paced work schedule and the constant challenge of new projects. One day, if he ever has the time, Hasselhoff hopes to return to his early acting roots by performing in musical theater.

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