When you think of 90s television, a few images immediately come to mind — slow-motion runs on the beach, bright red swimsuits, and lifeguards who looked more like models than public servants.
That was Baywatch, the show that became more than just a TV drama; it turned into a worldwide phenomenon.
At its height, more than a billion people tuned in weekly, making it the most-watched show on the planet.
Led by David Hasselhoff as the unshakable Mitch Buchannon, Baywatch gave us a mix of action, sun-soaked drama, and a cast that became overnight celebrities.
But fame isn’t always kind. While some stars built long careers, others faced addiction, scandals, and heartbreak.
And now, with Fox rebooting the series with a brand-new cast, it feels like the perfect time to revisit the lives of those original Santa Monica lifeguards.
David Hasselhoff: The Face of Baywatch
David Hasselhoff didn’t just star in Baywatch — he saved it.
When the show was canceled after its first season, he put up his own money to keep it alive, and it paid off.
Already famous for Knight Rider, he became an even bigger global icon as Mitch.
Beyond acting, he launched a surprisingly successful music career, particularly in Germany, and even sang at the Berlin Wall.
But “The Hoff” wasn’t without struggles. His decades-long battle with alcoholism made headlines after a viral video showed him intoxicated, struggling to eat a burger.
Hasselhoff credits his daughters with pushing him to get sober, admitting they told him some hard truths about his lifestyle.
Today, he’s still acting, making appearances in films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and even Sharknado.
Pamela Anderson: From Baywatch to Global Superstar
Pamela Anderson became one of the most recognizable stars in the world after Baywatch.
Her role as C.J. Parker cemented her image as a bombshell, but she also carved out a career beyond the beach — from Barb Wire to reality TV to writing books.
She modeled for Playboy more than any other woman in history and became an international sex symbol.
Her personal life, though, was turbulent. Anderson has been married six times, most famously to rocker Tommy Lee, with whom she shares two sons.
Their infamous leaked tape and volatile relationship became tabloid staples, most recently revisited in the Netflix documentary Pamela: A Love Story.
These days, she seems more reflective, telling interviewers she values honesty, solitude, and love more than fame.
Rumors even link her romantically with actor Liam Neeson, though she’s yet to confirm.
Jeremy Jackson: From Teen Idol to Troubled Adult
As Mitch’s son Hobie, Jeremy Jackson was every teen’s crush. But behind the fame came a darker reality.
By his late teens, Jackson was battling drug addiction and was even arrested for meth possession.
He walked away from Baywatch thinking he could make it on his own, but instead spiraled deeper into drugs and violence.
Years later, Jackson tried reality TV comebacks, including Celebrity Big Brother, but controversy followed — including a disturbing incident where he exposed another contestant without consent.
Legal troubles piled up, including assault charges, and at one point he faced jail time for stabbing a woman during an altercation.
Today, Jackson works as a fitness coach and sober mentor, but his story is a stark reminder of the price of child stardom.
Loni Willison: A Life Turned Upside Down
Though not a cast member, Loni Willison’s marriage to Jeremy Jackson tied her to Baywatch.
Once a fitness model, she lost everything after her divorce and mental health struggles.
Addiction to crystal meth eventually left her homeless on the streets of Los Angeles.
In interviews, Willison has spoken of bizarre delusions involving electricity and physical pain, showing just how drastically her life shifted after her Hollywood years.
Yasmine Bleeth: Fame, Addiction, and Reinvention
Yasmine Bleeth lit up Baywatch as Caroline Holden, but like many co-stars, she faced struggles with addiction.
After being arrested for cocaine possession in 2001, she entered rehab and later reflected on how drastically drugs had changed her appearance and life.
She eventually married Paul Cerrito, a nightclub owner she met in rehab, and stepped away from Hollywood. Today, she lives a quieter life, away from the spotlight.
Nicole Eggert: From Teen Star to Survivor
Nicole Eggert was already a child actress before she joined Baywatch as Summer Quinn.
After the show, her career slowed, and she made headlines when she swapped acting for running her own ice cream truck.
More recently, Eggert has been open about her health battles, including a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis.
She’s spoken candidly about her grueling treatments, surgeries, and the toll it has taken, but also about her determination to fight.
David Charvet: The Actor Who Chose Music
French actor David Charvet played Matt Brody and later pivoted into a music career that sold millions of albums in Europe.
He married Dancing With the Stars host Brooke Burke and had two children, but the couple divorced in 2020.
In 2023, Charvet faced troubling allegations of threatening an ex-girlfriend during a heated argument — though he denied wrongdoing.
Alexandra Paul: The Activist Lifeguard
Best known as Stephanie Holden, Alexandra Paul built an acting career that included dozens of TV movies.
But she also carved a unique path beyond Hollywood — becoming a health coach, a wellness advocate, and even a marathon runner.
She’s also faced darker chapters, including harassment from a stalker that forced her to seek a restraining order. Today, she focuses on health and activism more than showbiz.
Erika Eleniak: Walking Away on Her Own Terms
Erika Eleniak, who played Shauni McClain, left Baywatch when she felt it was becoming too risqué.
She went on to star in films like Under Siege and appeared in Full House.
Now living a quieter suburban life in California, she’s traded her Hollywood spotlight for motherhood and simplicity.
Eleniak has been open about her decision to leave at the height of the show, saying she wanted to stay true to herself rather than the direction the series was taking.
Looking Back at the Red Swimsuit Legacy
Baywatch wasn’t just a TV show — it was a cultural wave that swept across the globe.
Its stars became household names, but the aftershocks of that sudden fame played out in very different ways: some embraced long careers, some battled addiction, and others reinvented themselves completely.
With a reboot on the horizon, the big question is whether today’s new cast can capture the same magic — and handle the fame that comes with it.