has become one of the most recognizable faces on television and throughout the world. Aside from starring in El coche fantástico (1982) and Los vigilantes de la playa (1989), he is also an accomplished singer and popular recording artist.
David Michael Hasselhoff was born on July 17, 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Dolores Therese (Mullinex) and Joseph Vincent Hasselhoff, a business executive. He is of German (from his paternal grandfather), English, and Irish descent. 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 initially thought his career was going to go in the direction of musicals and Broadway.
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 El coche fantástico (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 El coche fantástico (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 Los vigilantes de la playa (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. Now a piece of American pop culture and an international television phenomenon, Los vigilantes de la playa (1989) was at its peak 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. He starred in the 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 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 was married to the beautiful actress Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, with whom he has two daughters, Taylor-Ann and Hayley Amber. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Paola Vaccari <accomazzi@p90.msoft.it> and DANIEL
Spouse
Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff (8 December 1989 - 27 July 2006) (divorced) (2 children)
Catherine Hickland (24 March 1984 - 1 March 1989) (divorced)
Trade Mark
Sparkling blue eyes
Deep resonant voice
Towering height
Muscular physique
Trivia
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California in 1996.
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 on 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 the current series "Double Cross". [May 2000]
(June 26, 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, O.J. was traveling along the Los Angeles 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 his then 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).
Has two daughters: Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff and Hayley Hasselhoff.
Has four sisters: Daine (born May 19, 1950), Joyce (born July 1, 1954), Jean (born March 7, 1956), Lisa (born July 5, 1968).
Has German (from his paternal grandfather), English and Irish ancestry.
Has played Michael Knight on El coche fantástico (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 Los vigilantes de la playa (1989) and Los vigilantes de la noche (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.
Attended and graduated from Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois in 1970. 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).
Is second cousins with famous Australian television host Rove McManus.
His sister, Jean Hasselhoff, appeared in the El coche fantástico (1982) episode, El coche fantástico: Dead of Knight (1984), 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 El coche fantástico (1982) and Los vigilantes de la playa (1989).
Chose singer Corina Brouder to be a "wild card" on America's Got Talent (2006) because "She has such an aura.".
His single "Jump In My Car" reached #3 on the UK Music Charts. [October 2006]
(June 15, 2007) 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.
Was considered for the role of Boba Fett in El imperio contraataca (1980), which went to Jeremy Bulloch.
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 Hasselhoff, died from a stroke in February 2009.
Once explained on a talk show about being attacked by a male kangaroo at a wildlife preserve.
He was a guest at Simon Cowell's 50th birthday party.
Sold millions of records in Germany.
Attended the season finale of American Idol: The Search for a Superstar (2002), season 5. [May 2006]
Son of Joe Hasselhoff and Dolores Hasselhoff.
Personal Quotes
(on the cancellation of Los vigilantes de la playa (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, Los vigilantes de la playa (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.
[2012, on the possibility of a remake of the Knight Rider series] If you don't make it retro and you don't appeal to the people that love the show, it's not going to be Knight Rider.
[on his name] I think God has a sense of humor, because they wanted me to change it; I was going to change it one time to David Michaels. But then I found out there was already a David Michaels. I took so much heat for the name growing up. I'm gonna keep [it] because I was proud of my parents. It's kind of pathetic because Hasselhoff has turned into The Hoff and The Hoff is keeping Hasselhoff out of work. But The Hoff's paying the bills.
Susan (Boyle) is responsible for bringing the world together.
Salary
Baywatch (1989) $60.000 /episode (1996) ...............................................................................................
