David Hasselhoff Biography

Hasselhoff first got the acting bug at the age of seven, when he took up singing and acting lessons.

Hasselhoff originally intended to forge a career on the stage; however, he was offered a part on TV as ‘Dr Snapper Foster’ on the CBS programme ‘The Young and The Restless’. He starred on the programme for six years, becoming one of the most popular day-time television stars, which itself led to a huge fan following.

The desire to move up to prime time led Hasselhoff to take on the role of Michael Knight in the award winning, ‘Knight Rider’. During his four years there, Hasselhoff earned The People’s Choice Award for most popular actor.

‘Knight Rider’ ended in 1986, but its popularity continues and the show still airs repeats in over 80 counties around the world.

The ending of the show meant that Hasselhoff could concentrate pursuing a singing career and, with the help of Jack White, an acclaimed German composer and producer, he recorded his first single, ‘Looking for Freedom’.

The success of ‘Knight Rider’, both internationally and nationally, made him the ideal choice for the producers of new series ‘Baywatch’, which first aired in 1989.

The hour-long series was about the adventures of Los Angeles lifeguards but, despite its popularity, the show was cancelled after only one series. Determined to make it work, Hasselhoff managed to get the rights to the show and, with a little financial funding, brought the show back in 1991.

Since then Hasselhoff has involved himself with almost every aspect of performing, not only acting on television, but producing, directing, performing in musicals on and off Broadway, singing, touring and, given his popularity as a singer in Germany, he even performed on the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Hasselhoff has made several self-parodic appearances in movies. He had a major appearance in 'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie' (2004), starring as himself, although very much in bygone Baywatch character, and meeting SpongeBob and Patrick.

He also had another short appearance in 'Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story' as the dodgeball coach to the German national dodgeball team.

In 'Eurotrip' (2004), Hasselhoff appears in a fantasy sequence performing his early 1990s hit single 'Du'. In a cameo as himself in John Waters' 2004 effort 'A Dirty Shame', Hasselhoff defecates in an aeroplane's washroom.

Hasselhoff was married to actress Catherine Hickland until they divorced in 1989. He married Pamela Bach the following year and had two daughters, Taylor-Ann and Hayley Amber.

However, in 2006, Hasselhoff announced that he was filing for divorce from Bach after 16 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Bach accused Hasselhoff of violent behavior towards her.

The actor has received a lot of media attention for his drinking problems. This culminated in a 2004 court order instructing him to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings after he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Hasselhoffs starts Monday 30 May at 7pm on Bio.