Rising to the Top: What Have Baywatch Stars Been Doing Lately?

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We all grew up watching the Baywatch lifeguards spring into action on the beaches of California and Hawaii (90s teens can relate!). The popular show caught everyone's attention like wildfire. Its storyline was amazing and fun-filled. But, the most exciting part was that many big-time celebrities popped up in the show.

Jason Mamoa, Kelly Packard, and David Chokachi are just a few names. Back then, these people were the hot topic for reality shows. Everyone wanted to know about their daily life struggles and rising-to-the-top journeys.

Well, you wouldn't quite believe what these former Baywatch lifeguards are doing now. Read more to find out!

Erika Eleniak Before

We all remember the sweet Shauni McClain who appeared in the first 3 seasons of Baywatch. She was naïve, but driven to become the best lifeguard possible, so she eventually overcame all her fears of giving CPR with the help of the team.

According to the actress, she auditioned around 6 times to get the star-studded role in the movie Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier, there were just so many hoops to jump through.

After that she became on of the leading actresses in the Baywatch show, but filming it hasn't been all that fun. “When we shot that show… it was January,” she explained. “We would use these huge lights to make it look hot and sunny. I remember running in the water on the coldest day of the year. Our lips were so blue that we couldn’t use the footage!".

Erika Eleniak After

Early into the 3rd season Erika Eleniak, the actress who played Shauni McClain, left the show to pursue her acting career in the film industry. According to the actress, things were getting a bit risqué for her taste and she wanted to play different roles.

She admitted that she never regretted her decision as the role was immediately picked up by Pamela Anderson and she was the best fit for the show. It was truly a match made in heaven!

Immediately after leaving Baywatch Erika Eleniak went on starring in 1992’s Under Siege alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Steven Seagull, and Gary Busey. She never stopped acting after that, appearing in a variety of movies and TV shows. In 2022, you can watch her in the movies Lollipop Gang and Marilyn Monroe Back?

Gena Lee Nolin Before

Gena Lee Nolin's earliest role was in The Price is Right (1994). She was one of the popular Barker's Beauties. Later, she also became the model Sandy in the soap opera The Young and the Relentless.

Baywatch was quick to notice her acting skills and cast her soon. Gena entered into the story as the enthusiastic Neely Capshaw. It won't be wrong to say that her acting career rocketed after that!

She was in the cast for the sixth season of Baywatch. Her role remained permanent until the eighth season, making the total number of 64 episodes.

Gena Lee Nolin After

Gena left the Baywatch series in 1998 and took a break from work. She quickly made a comeback into the industry in 2000. However, this time she chose to work on her terms.

She launched a TV show called Sheena. It ran successfully and aired the last episode in 2002. Gena also modeled for different magazines. These included Maxim, FHM, and Stuff.

She also posed for Playboy's Christmas edition. Other than this, she authored many notable books as well. Beautiful Inside and Out: Conquering Thyroid Disease with a Healthy, Happy, 'Thyroid Sеxy' Life is one of her most famous titles.

Jason Momoa Before

Jason Momoa's first earnings were from a part-time job in Hawaii's surf shop. At the age of 19, he was just a regular teen who lived a regular life. But then the designer Takeo Kobayashi discovered him!

He started his modeling career and even won the Model of the Year in Hawaii. The Miss Teen Hawaii team instantly invited him as a judge for the contest.

Soon, his rise to fame landed him the role in Baywatch as Jason Loane. The series aired for two years, although it was enough to double his popularity. Jason Momoa was in the Baywatch cast from 1999 to 2001.

Jason Momoa After

There was no stopping Jason Mamoa after Baywatch. He appeared in several movies and TV shows. Some famous names include Johnson Family Vacation and Stargate: Atlantis.

In 2011, Jason took over the role of Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones. It's common knowledge that he performed Haka in his auditions. Haka is a traditional Maori dance used to challenge someone or welcome visitors.

However, the role that made him worldwide famous didn't come up until a few years later. In 2014, Jason starred as Aquaman and became one of the most famous personalities. He also co-wrote and produced The Road to Paloma.

Donna D'errico Before

Donna D'errico's life was very different before Baywatch. Instead of an actress, she was the proud owner of a limousine company based in Las Vegas. However, whoever stays in Vegas can't really escape the glory of Hollywood stardom.

In September of 1995, Donna got featured in the popular magazine Playboy. Her centerfold was photographed by Richard Fegley. That was the beginning of it all!

Soon, Donna started landing roles in different shows like Unhappily Ever After, High Tide, and Married With Children.  These roles led to her casting in Baywatch. She stayed for two seasons and 34 episodes for the spin-off series.

Donna D’errico After

For Donna, things didn't really quieten down after leaving the famous show. She immediately received offers from several other shows.

During the early 2000s, she worked as the host and correspondent of Battlebots. She also played roles in movies like Inconceivable, Intervention, and The Making of Plus One. The most notable performance was in the horror film Candyman: Day of the Dead (1999).

She renewed her business passion too. In California, she opened up a Zen spa that is open to the public. Recently, she spoke about her Catholic faith and how she has been focusing on it more. One of her latest participation was in the expedition to Mount Ararat. The purpose was to find the remains of Noah's Ark.

Kelly Chemane Packard Before

Kelly Packard was a well-known actress before she stepped into the Baywatch universe. Her very first show was Living Dolls (1989). Afterwards, she did many minor and major roles in different TV shows.

But none of them was long-term and consistent.  She worked as Kimberly Taylor in Blossom for two consecutive years. In 1991, she finally made the switch and became the much-loved April Giminski of Baywatch.

Her role continued for several years, which helped her land roles in movies too. You Thought Your Parents Were Weird was the first one. She also starred in California Dreams (NBC's sitcom).

Kelly Chemane Packard After

In 1999, Kelly Chemane Packard left the Baywatch family and pursued acting. She immediately did a role in the movie Get Your Stuff (2000) and The Wild Thornberrys (2001).

Shortly, she received an offer from Ripley's Believe It or Not. For a year, she worked as the co-host in which she unveiled bizarre stories and events in the United States. It was perhaps the only most popular role after Baywatch's April.

She married an emergency physician Darrin Privett and became a mother to four children. Now, the whole family happily lives in Newhall, California. She and her family reside in a cozy, country-style home full of rich history and beautiful tradition.

Jeremy Jackson Before

Jeremy Jackson was one of the best actors on the Baywatch team. He joined the series in 1991 and remained in the cast until 1999. His total episode count was 159 (8 seasons).

Jeremy's role was Hobie Buchanon, a guy who was the son of Hasselhoff and also the romantic interest of Summer Quinn. So, on the set, he also met David Hasselhoff.

David introduced him to singing and music, which brought a shift into his career. He kept acting as Hobie Buchanon and also signed to Edel records. Soon, he released two albums and six singles.

Jeremy Jackson After

In 1999, Jeremy Jackson halted his Baywatch career. He later admitted that it was because of substаnce abuse and health issues. This particular acceptance gave him plenty of fame.

Many reality and talk shows invited him as a guest. People interviewed about his off-screen problems and personal life. Then, Jeremy was cast in the show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Season 5.

In this particular show, he made his recovery from substаnce аddiction public. Unfortunately, the outcome of this was that he did not receive any more acting offers. Reality shows and interviews are the only things Jeremy has been doing ever since Baywatch’s stardom. However, recently, he revealed that he is working as a fitness trainer and will soon launch his brand of protein shakes.

Pamela Anderson Before

Pamela Anderson has had the most unexpected and exciting start. A brewing company was the first to notice her. It was when she was seen wearing the company’s t-shirt at a BC Lions Canadian Football League.

They offered her the position of spokesmodel and Pamela agreed. Later, she received a feature in Playboy magazine. Note that, unlike others, she received the feature before acting in Baywatch.

Her sudden rise to stardom encouraged her to move to Los Angeles. She pursued a career in modeling there and then worked in the show Lisa on Home Improvement. She had just completed two seasons when she left the role for Baywatch’s C.J. Parker.

Pamela Anderson After

Pamela remained the main cast member for a total of five seasons in Baywatch. In 1997, she exited the team and continued acting on different projects. However, it seemed like Baywatch didn’t want C.J’s character to go.

In 2003, they cast her again in the movie Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding. Later, they also brought the character back to life by casting Pamela for a DirecTV commercial campaign in 2007.

Apart from Baywatch life, Pamela made appearances in blockbuster movies and reality shows. Dancing with the Stars and Dancing on Ice have remained the most famous ones so far. She has also started focusing on social activism.

Traci Bingham Before

Traci Bingham had a great previous acting history before she joined the Baywatch crew. She made brief appearances in many popular shows like D.R.E.A.M, Beverly Hills, 90210, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She co-starred with Donna D’errico in Married with Children too.

Her first film was Demon Night which featured Jada Pinkett Smith. So, things were going pretty well for Traci Bingham. She even did some music videos for musicians like Marky Mark and Funky Bunch.

Traci’s career went further uphill when she became one of the lifeguards in Baywatch (1996). She remained throughout the seventh and eighth seasons.

Traci Bingham After

Unlike other actors, Baywatch was the only major role in Traci Bingham’s career. She didn’t take up any more major roles in shows and films. However, she did many reality shows, including The Surreal Life by VH1 and Celebrity Big Brother.

Later, she was featured in many magazines. The most famous modeling pose was for Playboy Magazine, in which she was one of the Babes of Baywatch in 1998. It brought her into a sudden yet temporary spotlight.

She soon received offers for movies. In 2014, the Massachusetts court released an arrest warrant for Traci because she agreed to a movie, took the payment, and did not show up for the work. This incident was the final seal for her acting journey.

David Charvet Before

David Charvet was born to the family of a reputable businessman Paul Guez in France. He grew up and pursued singing in his early years. Surprisingly, his music received a good response, and he started touring different places.

However, he was not at all known in Hollywood. The first time David stepped onto the American lands was when he won the Morrison visa lottery. Then, he left his home country to pursue a life in America.

In 1992, things changed overnight when he was cast as Matt Brody for the Baywatch series. He received many acting and modeling offers throughout his time in Baywatch.

David Charvet After

Soon, David Charvet decided acting was not of much interest to him. He completed three seasons of Baywatch and left in 1995. Then, he made many appearances in popular shows like Derby and Angel Flight Down.

In 1999, he quit acting altogether and moved back to France. He signed an album contract and focused on his music career. It seems like David made the right decision at the right time.

His career has been successful until now. He has done countless tours and produced international hits. However, you would be amazed to know what he is doing currently. As of 2022, David runs The Jonas Builders Group - a residential contracting company based in Las Vegas.

Carmen Electra Before

Carmen Electra studied acting and dancing at the Barbizon Modeling and Acting School. After her graduation, she pursued a career in dancing but also did singing and modeling gigs. She started appearing on TV shows and commercials in 1996.

Soon, she was featured in Playboy magazine, which helped her land a role in Baywatch. The cheerful Lani McKenzie ultimately became her breakout role. From 1997 to 1998, Carmen was one of the most famous Baywatch cast members.

All the fame boosted her dancing career and got her featured three times in Playboy Magazine. If you think things settled down for her after Baywatch, they did not!

Carmen Electra After

Carmen’s journey is just like Jason Mamoa’s. Since Baywatch, she has been appearing on the big screen frequently. In 1997, she was cast in the movies Good Burger and American Vampire.

She hosted many shows like Singled Out. Also, London Night Studios offered her modeling roles which she gladly accepted. Carmen was also a regular feature in the commercials of brands like Ritz Camera Centers and Maxim Men’s Hair Color products.

Her latest appearances were in Hell’s Kitchen and The Celebrity Dating Game.

David Chokachi Before

David Chokachi didn’t have any background in acting. In fact, Baywatch was the very first show that he did. Before that, he was an ordinary political science graduate from Tabor Academy in Massachusetts.

He decided to pursue an acting career after getting his degree. His search for a decent gig landed him in the Baywatch cast, where he played the role of an aspiring Olympic swimmer. Although the role was a minor one, he made great progress.

The production team found his acting skills so phenomenal that he replaced the main cast member David Charvet. He remained a part of the Baywatch family from the sixth to the ninth season.

David Chokachi After

In 1999, Baywatch ended and left David Chokachi in search of new roles. After some time, he was to replace Jake McCartey in the TV show Witchblade. It successfully continued until 2002.

After this, he made appearances in movies like Rage of the Yeti, Patient Killer, and Cyber Chase. However, none of these movies were blockbuster hits. You can rather term them as movies that were made for TVs.

He also made it into the list of 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People’s magazine. Later, along with Jeremy Jackson, he participated in the reality show Confessions of a Teen Idol.

David Hasselhoff Before

David Hasselhoff was a celebrity way before he discovered the Baywatch universe. He started his career in the soap opera titled The Young and Restless. His role was Dr. Snapper Foster which he played from 1975 to 1982.

In 1978, he played a minor role in the space opera named Starcrash. He then took the next role in 1982 as the famous Michael Knight in NBC’s Knight Rider. He also released music in an attempt to establish a singing career.

Soon, he joined Baywatch as Mitch Buchannon. He kept his role for the entire series and worked in Baywatch: Hawaii's first season.

David Hasselhoff After

David’s character has lived on even after he left the role. He made countless self-parodic appearances in movies like Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

He also received The Guinness World Record as the most-watched person on TV. In 2010, one of the episodes of The Comedy Central Roast was for David Hasselhoff. Many coworkers and friends gathered to roast him as a form of celebration.

Currently, David Hasselhoff is focusing on singing. He releases music now and then. His last release was a heavy metal song titled Through the Night (2020).

Krista Allen Before

Did you know Krista Allen did her major in education? The beautiful and highly talented actress first considered a career in teaching when she completed her degree in the University of Texas.

But, before she could jump head-first into the world of academics, she decided to give acting a shot. She moved to California and tried auditioning for a few roles. Her very first gig was in Emmanuelle in Space.

The 1994 TV series didn’t make her career skyrocket, but she could see some perspective. She soon landed a long-term role in Days of Our Lives. It lasted for almost 4 years before she got an opportunity to star as Jenna Avid on the Baywatch show!

Krista Allen After

After staying in the series for a year, Krista Allen dropped her role in 2001. She continued acting and made appearances in many popular shows. Her most famous shows are X-Files, Smallville, Friends, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Charmed.

Even today, she makes appearances in random episodes of different shows. But none of them are long-term and consistent. After getting divorced two times, her personal life has experienced great ups and downs too.

Recently, Krista made a comeback by taking up the role of Dr. Taylor Hayes in the soap opera. She will now lead the main role until she decides to leave it.

José Solano Before

Jose Solano got into Baywatch at a very young age. Born in 1971, he was just 18 when he auditioned and got selected!

His character Manny Gutierrez was one of the main characters. Jose suffered a major injury later and had to continue the role in a wheelchair. He recovered from the tragic accident later.

Many times others doubted Jose's capabilities because of his age. He soon proved he had amazing skills by continuing the role until the seventh season. He also became the first Hispanic to maintain a long-term position on a TV show.

José Solano After

After Baywatch, Jose Solano left his home in California and joined the US Navy. He served there for a long time. But he didn’t quit his acting career completely.

Jose starred in two Spanish drama series from 2003 to 2005. The titles were Amor en Custodia and Resurrection Blvd, respectively. He was also featured in the list of 50 Most Beautiful People in the world.

He tried production management for some time as well. However, afterwards he cut himself off from the media completely. Nobody really knows what he does these days.