Down by the Bay(watch)
While Baywatch will never be the Citizen Kane of television, there's no denying it was an international phenomenon. Through 11 seasons, a spin-off show, and a reunion movie, Baywatch and its iconic red bathing suits are firmly entrenched in our pop culture history. Now more than 20 years removed from its debut, we catch up with what some of the show's biggest stars are doing now.
David Hasselhoff - Mitch Buchannon
As the lead lifeguard on the Malibu sands, Baywatch gave David Hasselhoff enough pop culture caché to remain a fixture in the entertainment biz (like the William Shatner of the beach). Sure there was that drunken cheeseburger mess, but for the most part the Hoff has had continued success both by making fun of himself and taking on serious projects. He's done everything from Broadway to a reality TV series to competition shows like Dancing with the Stars and America's Got Talent.
Pamela Anderson - C.J. Parker
While Pamela Anderson didn't win the role of C.J. Parker for her acting chops, she was a smart enough business woman to parlay her memorable slow-motion beach run into a multi-million dollar career. Anderson had another TV run as the lead in VIP, starred in Barb Wire, and has since made guest appearances parodying herself on various shows and movies. She's perhaps most passionate about her animal rights activism; she's been the face of PETA from more than a decade.
Carmen Electra - Lani McKenzie
Carmen Electra has a pattern of picking up after hot blondes. She took over for Jenny McCarthy on Singled Out and filled the void left by Pamela Anderson on Baywatch, but she's more than just sexy filler. Electra appeared in more than a dozen films during the '00s. Most recently, Carmen launched an aerobic striptease DVD series, sat in the judges chair for Britain's Got Talent, and tried to find a date on Fox's The Choice.
Jeremy Jackson - Hobie Buchannon
Next to the Hoff, no Baywatch cast member had a longer run on the series than Jeremy Jackson as Mitch's son. Jackson had a rough time following the show. He's admitted to battling drug addiction and was arrested in a meth bust. He later appeared on Celebrity Rehab in 2011 for steroid addiction. Today, Jackson maintains he's gone clean and has signed on for the film Dreams, out in 2013.
Yasmine Bleeth - Caroline Holden
Following her stint on Baywatch, Yasmine Bleeth spent the late '90s acting on shows like Nash Bridges and Titans, as well as made-for-TV movies, most notably in Crowned and Dangerous. Unfortunately, by 2001 Bleeth's life took a turn for the worse on account of her cocaine addiction. After an arrest led to mandatory rehab, Bleeth got clean. Coming full circle, her last acting role was in 2003's Baywatch movie.
Kelly Slater - Jimmy Slade
It was Kelly Slater's world-class surfing skills that earned him a role on Baywatch, so it's no surprise surfing has dominated Kelly's life since he left the show. In addition to being a repeat world champion surfer (most recently in 2011), Slater spends his time pursuing other passion projects. He formed a band in the late '90s (called the Surfers, go figure), performed with the likes of Ben Harper and Pearl Jam, launched his own video game, wrote an autobiography, and still serves on the boards of various ocean conservation organizations.
Donna D'Errico - Donna Marco
After her Playboy Playmate pictorial led to her Baywatch gig, Donna D'Errico was on the verge of becoming a major TV star, but she had other aspirations. D'Errico followed her days on the beach by opening up her own Zen Spa. Most recently though, D'Errico set out on her lifelong dream of climbing Mt. Ararat in search of the remains of Noah's ark. In 2012, she successfully scaled the mountain, but had no luck with the biblical archeology portion of her quest (despite suffering some serious battle wounds.)
Nicole Eggert - Summer Quinn
Having appeared on Who's the Boss? and Charles in Charge as a kid, Nicole Eggert had a long list of credits before she joined the Baywatch cast in 1992. (You may also recognize her from Sugar Ray's debut album cover.) Eggert shied away from the spotlight for most of her life following Baywatch, but she eventually found herself doing the reality TV circuit, appearing on Celebrity Fit Club, Scot Baio is 45 and Single, and The Real Gilligan's Island.
