David Hasselhoff [The Hoff]

Cast your minds back to the 80’s and 90’s and you will remember the undisputed Saturday Evening TV Drama “Baywatch”, while later at the turn of the Millennium you had “Baywatch Nights”, the erotic (Supposed) side of the Baywatch Beach Guards. David Hasselhoff, or The Hoff, as he is called, became “A God Among Men” after Germany provided millions of fans that forced the hands of critics and judges alike. Enjoy.

David Hasselhoff

 

Date of Birth

17 July 1952, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

 

Birth Name

David Michael Hasselhoff

 

Nickname

The Hoff

 

Height

6′ 4″ (1.93 m)

 

Mini Biography

The acting bug first hit when David was seven and so he took acting, singing and dancing lessons. He was very shy off stage in front of girls because he was tall and thin, but when he was on stage he was in his element. Due to his father’s work, his family (he has four sisters) moved around frequently. He thought his career was going to go in the direction of musicals and Broadway, but, while in California, he became successful on “The Young and the Restless” (1973) and his fate as an actor was sealed. He had a dream to be a pop star and his dream came true in 1988 when he crossed paths with Jack White, the noted German composer and record producer. Now, he is one of the most recognized faces on television throughout the world, he continues to star as chief lifeguard, Mitch Buchannon, in the TV series “Baywatch” (1989) and “Baywatch Nights” (1995), but he continues to sing too. He spends many hours visiting children’s hospitals throughout the world. His charity, “Race For Life”, works with the terminally ill and handicapped children in America. He is the father of two daughters, Taylor Ann and Hayley Amber, with ex-wife Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff.

 

Mini Biography

David Hasselhoff has become one of the most recognizable faces on television and throughout the world. He is not only the star and executive producer of “Baywatch Hawaii” but also an accomplished singer and popular recording artist. American audiences first came to know Hasselhoff when he portrayed the popular “Dr. Snapper Foster” for six seasons on CBS’s soap opera, “The Young and the Restless” (1973). Lured by NBC’s Brandon Tartikoff to move from daytime to prime time, Hasselhoff went on to star as “Michael Knight” in NBC’s hit series “Knight Rider” (1982). The role garnered him a “People’s Choice Award” for most popular actor and the show became a huge success overseas. The success of “Knight Rider” (1982) resulted in Hasselhoff’s first major international following. When the show ended, Hasselhoff launched a successful recording career in Europe. In 1989, “Looking for Freedom” remained in the number one spot on the German charts for eight consecutive weeks. He has continued to perform regularly in concert and has released nine albums to date. Hasselhoff returned to episodic television as “Mitch Buchannon” on “Baywatch” (1989) when the show 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 tenth year of production, the show enjoys continued success as “Baywatch Hawaii”. Now a piece of American pop culture and an international television phenomenon, “Baywatch” (1989) is seen in 140 countries by over one billion viewers each week. During his lengthy career, Hasselhoff has flexed his acting muscles in numerous other projects. Most recently, he completed work on an epic miniseries “Shaka Zulu” (1986), shot on-location in Morocco. Hasselhoff is an outdoor sports enthusiast whose interests include scuba diving, hiking, white water rafting, tennis, and jogging. In addition, he has parachuted with the US Army Parachute Demonstration Team, The Golden Knights, and flown with the US Navy’s Blue Angels. He is an avid sports fan, and has attended the World Cup Soccer Finals, the NBA Finals, the Olympics, the Indy 500, and the Kentucky Derby. Hasselhoff has traveled throughout Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean. He was married to the beautiful actress Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, with whom he has two daughters, Taylor-Ann and Hayley Amber.

 

Spouse

Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff          (8 December 1989 – 27 July 2006) (divorced) 2 children

Catherine Hickland        (24 March 1984 – 1 March 1989) (divorced)

 

Trade Mark

Towering height

 

 

Trivia

In 1996 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Saved a drowning child. [August 1995]

Helped to rescue a car crash victim. [March 1995]

In 1989 he was awarded “Most Popular and Best Selling Artist of the Year” in Germany and was invited to perform ‘Freedom’ on the Berlin Wall New Year’s Eve 1989.

In 1990, Cosmopolitan’s Editor Helen Gurley Brown chose him for her magazine’s 25th anniversary issue.

Was engaged to Roberta Leighton.

His lead role in “Baywatch Hawaii” was scheduled to be killed off in explosion that ends final episode of 1999-2000 season due to his commitments to new series “Double Cross.” [May 2000]

26 June 2002 – checked into the Betty Ford Clinic for alcohol-related problems.

Has had a passion for singing and is a major recording artist in Europe. He tried to break into the American music scene in 1984 with a remake of “Do You Love Me?”, but bombed. His next attempt was in 1993 when he scheduled a live pay per view from Atlantic City. This time, it was O.J. Simpson that ruined his “comeback”. As David was performing his concert, OJ was traveling along the L.A. freeway in his white Bronco. People who were watching the concert had switched over to the news to watch the car chase. Since then, Hasselhoff has not tried to break into the American music scene. He now saves his music for his television shows and the European fans.

Hasselhoff and ex-wife, Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, were injured when the motorcycle they were riding on crashed into a light pole in February 2003. Both suffered just minor injuries.

Attended the Academy Of Dramatic Arts (Chicago) and the California Institute Of Arts (Los Angeles)

Children: Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff (b. 5 May 1990), Hayley Hasselhoff (b. 26 August 1992)

Siblings: Daine (b. 19 May 1950), Joyce (b. 1 July 1954), Jean (b. 7 March 1956), Lisa (b. 5 July 1968)

Is mainly of German ancestry.

Played Michael Knight on “Knight Rider” (1982). His ex-wife, Catherine Hickland, is currently married to Michael E. Knight.

Is one of the very few actors to play the same regular character on two different series simultaneously. From 1995 and 1997, he played Mitch Buchannon on both “Baywatch” (1989) and “Baywatch Nights” (1995). Richard Anderson and Fred Dalton Thompson are among the other actors to have done this.

In Germany, he shares his dubbing voice with Kermit the Frog.

Attended Marist High School in Atlanta, Georgia

1970 Graduate of Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois. He is also listed in the Alumni Hall of Fame.

Failed out of Marist High School in Atlanta, but transferred to Lyons Township High School in the Chicago suburbs where he successfully graduated. A plaque with his image is on display on the Wall of Fame in the main corridor of the high school.

His stage credits–both on and off Broadway–include “Grease,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” (he was Judas Iscariot), and “The Rocky Horror Show” (he was Dr. Frank N. Furter).

He is second cousins with famous Australian TV host Rove McManus.

His sister, Jean Hasselhoff, appears in the “Knight Rider” (1982) episode, “Dead of Knight”, as Stanley Kamel’s secretary “Rosemary”.

Is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “The Most Watched TV Star in the World”, thanks to starring roles in both “Knight Rider” (1982) and “Baywatch” (1989).

Chose singer Corina Brouder to be a “wildcard” on “America’s Got Talent” (2006) because “She has such an aura”.

October 2006: Single “Jump In My Car” reached #3 on the UK Music Charts.

After a court battle against his ex-wife Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, he was awarded primary physical and full legal custody of his daughters Taylor Ann and Hayley (15 June 2007).

Was considered for the role for Boba Fett in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

Has season tickets to the University of Arizona football games in Tucson. His daughter, Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff, became a student there in fall 2008.

Older brother of Jean Hasselhoff.

His mother, Dolores, died from a stroke in February, 2009.

Once explained on a talk show about being attacked by a male kangaroo at a wildlife preserve.

 

Personal Quotes

(On the cancellation of “Baywatch” (1989)): “The reaction was, ‘been there done that. Eleven years is enough. It’s not the same show.’ I wasn’t really happy with the direction the show was going.”

Beyond its entertainment value, “Baywatch” (1989) has enriched and, in many ways, helped save lives. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue with a project which has had such significance for so many.

I find it a bit sad that there is no photo of me hanging on the walls in the Berlin Museum at Checkpoint Charlie.

That’s kind of a double-edged sword. My daughter lives in Atlanta and they are allowed to carry guns in their cars. It’s like the Wild West there. If there’s a gun around, I believe you are going to use it. I think it’s really dangerous to have a gun in your house, so I would never, never have a gun in my house.

 

Salary

“Baywatch” (1989)        $60,000/episode (1996)

 

Where Are They Now

(August 2004) Currently playing in the hit musical ‘Chicago’ in London’s West End.

(May 2006) Attended the season finale of “American Idol” (2002), season 5.

(August 2006) Starring in a commercial for British Internet Provider ‘Pipex’.

(2006) Release of his book, “Making Waves”.

(2006) Release of his book, “Don’t Hassel the Hoff”.

(April 2008) Starring in a TV commercial for Volkswagen.

 

© The M. Celebrity 2012/ The [MKDS] Network 2012