Career
Early career
Hasselholf was born July17, 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland to homemaker Dolores and business executive Joe Hasselhoff.[25] He is of German ancestry.[26][27] Hasselhoff spent his pre-teen years in Jacksonville, Florida and later lived in Atlanta, Georgia where he attended Marist High School. He graduated from Lyons Township High School outside Chicago, Illinois. He studied at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine; Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan; and graduated with a degree in theater at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California.[28]Hasselhoff portrayed Dr. William "Snapper" Foster, Jr. on the soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1975 to 1982. In 1979, he played the role of Simon in Starcrash. He launched his singing career with guest appearances on the first season of children's program Kids Incorporated, performing 'Do You Love Me.' He guest starred on an episode of Diff'rent Strokes as himself in 1984.
Hasselhoff then starred in the science-fiction series Knight Rider from 1982 to 1986. He has described Knight Rider as more than a TV show: "It's a phenomenon. It's bigger than Baywatch ever was." On the success of Knight Rider — "It's because it was about saving lives, not taking lives, and it was how one man really can make a difference. And we had a blast making it, and we made sure nobody died on the show; [just as] we made sure nobody ever drowned on Baywatch." (However, in the 1982 two hour pilot "Knight Of The Phoenix", Michael Long's partner Mugsy is shot and dies in the parking lot. Also a female character died in the "Nobody Does It Better" episode and a gang member was killed by Michael Knight in the "Short Notice" episode). He describes the acting he has done as "a little more difficult than if you had a regularly well-written script – like, if I was going to be in, say, Reservoir Dogs, or The Godfather, or Dances with Wolves or Lawrence of Arabia or ER, I had to talk to a car."
In 1989, David Hasselhoff released (in Switzerland only) the single "Pingu Dance", a rap song based on the Pingu shorts and featuring samples of Penguinese. A portion of this song is used as the theme to Pingu in international airings.
European popularity
While his star rose, fell and rose again in the US, Hasselhoff's popularity remained a little longer in Europe during the end of the 80s. Hasselhoff had two number-one hits in the German pop charts in 1989 ("Looking for Freedom" and "Crazy for You"), the first of which very much resonated with the fall of the Berlin Wall at that time.
Baywatch
Hasselhoff returned to television on Baywatch which premiered in 1989. Although it was canceled after only one season, he believed the series had potential, so Hasselhoff revived it for the first-run syndication market in 1991, investing his own money and additionally functioning as executive producer. His contract stipulated royalties to be paid to him from the rerun profits, which gave him the financial liberty to buy back the rights to Baywatch from NBC.In its second incarnation, Baywatch was much more successful. It ran in syndication for another ten seasons. It was also well received internationally and has been shown in over 140 countries around the world. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Baywatch is the most watched TV show in the world, with over 1.1 billion viewers. Hasselhoff on the appeal of Baywatch: "I believe the camera photographs your aura, and it also photographs your heart. And I cast Baywatch that way. If you look at Baywatch, just about everybody on that show — even Pamela Anderson — has got a great heart."
This success combined with his royalties and his other ventures have placed Hasselhoff's fortune at more than $100,000,000
Later career
In 1991, Hasselhoff reprised his role as Michael Knight in the television film Knight Rider 2000 as a sequel to the original series. The movie served as a pilot for a proposed new series, but despite high ratings, the plan was abandoned.In 1994, Hasselhoff was scheduled to perform a concert on pay-per-view from Atlantic City. The concert was expected to help reignite his singing career in the United States. On the night of his concert, O.J. Simpson was involved in a police chase in southern California. Viewership of the concert was significantly lower than expected, due to the live coverage of the chase. Since then, Hasselhoff has not attempted another concert.
In 1996, Hasselhoff was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1997, he did a duet with Filipino singer Regine Velasquez. The song was used as the main theme for his 1998 movie Legacy. In the film, he was joined by Filipina actresses, Donita Rose and Chin Chin Gutierrez. The film was shot in the Philippines.
Hasselhoff made his Broadway debut in 2000 in the title role of Jekyll & Hyde. In August 2001 he hosted an event at the Conga Room, in Los Angeles honoring the Latin rock band Renegade for record sales in excess of 30 million units worldwide, taking the stage with the Latin rockers and singing in Spanish.Beginning in July 16, 2004, he played the lead role in London performances of Chicago for three months.
Hasselhoff has made several self-parodic appearances in movies. He had a major appearance in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, released November 19, 2004, starring as himself (though very much in bygone Baywatch character) and meeting SpongeBob and Patrick (His full name is heard once in the movie. He is referred to as "Hasselhoff"). Hasselhoff also had another short appearance in the movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story as the dodgeball coach to the German national dodgeball team. Berating his team after being eliminated from a tournament, he shouts "Ihr seid alle Schweine!" (translated: "You are all pigs!", a common German insult) and smashes a photo of himself in his Baywatch attire. In 2004's Eurotrip, Hasselhoff appears in a washroom. The 2006 Adam Sandler film Click is the first film in which Hasselhoff plays a character, as Sandler's despicable boss. Hasselhoff also appeares in an episode of Wildboyz. In 2007, he again played himself in the Jamie Kennedy comedy Kickin' It Old Skool, teaching Kennedy's character (who revives from a coma he entered at age 12) how to make out with his girlfriend and loaning him KITT for his date.
In his music video for "Jump in My Car", Hasselhoff again demonstrates a penchant for self-parody, this time of his performance as Michael Knight in Knight Rider. The car in the video was a black Pontiac Trans Am with a pulsing LED and an interior nearly identical to that of K.I.T.T. (this video was shot in Sydney, Australia and used a right hand drive KITT replica), including an aptly-timed use of K.I.T.T.'s seat ejection system. The video plays to a skit where he asks one of three girls to "jump in his car" to take her home. The girl initially refuses but then gets in so long as he behaves politely. She suggests that he should drive quickly, because she lives down south, "about 84 miles". When she insists she is not joking, he asks her to leave the vehicle, but she refuses, so he resorts to using the ejector seat to cause her to exit.
In May 2006, Hasselhoff returned to the spotlight after he was mentioned in an interview of Dirk Nowitzki, an NBA star playing for the Dallas Mavericks and a native of Germany. Nowitzki was asked what he does to concentrate when shooting foul shots. Dirk replied that he sings "Looking for Freedom" to himself. He meant this as a joke but it was thought to be a serious answer. Shortly thereafter, Hasselhoff attended the May 26, 2006 Mavericks home playoff game where they faced the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Western Conference Finals. Interviewed by Craig Sager, Hasselhoff stated he was as much a fan of Nowitzki as Nowitzki was a fan of him. In The 2006 NBA Finals, fans of the Miami Heat in the American Airlines Arena held up facial photos of Hasselhoff and chanted his name when Nowitzki went to the foul line.
Late 2006, a musical based on his life called David Hasselhoff: The Musical will open in Australia before moving to the United States. Hasselhoff describes it as "totally campy".[5]
On August 2, 2006, Hasselhoff proclaimed himself "King of the Internet" in a tongue-in-cheek advertisement commercial for Pipex.[6]
In September 2006 he appeared in a radio interview with Gerard Gilroy on The Breakfast Show on Dublin's Newstalk 106, pushed his book on The Tubridy Tonight Show on RTE1, and sang and spoke to Grant Lauchlan of stv.tv,[7] where he revealed that he would like to play a concert in the future at Scotland's Edinburgh Castle.
In November 2006, Mel Brooks announced Hasselhoff would portray Roger DeBris, the director of the Nazi musical Springtime for Hitler, in the Las Vegas production of The Producers.[8]
Throughout the summer of 2006, Hasselhoff, along with Grammy-winning singer/actress Brandy Norwood and former British tabloid editor Piers Morgan, was a co-judge on NBC's America's Got Talent, a show that showcases America's best amateur entertainers. He judged in the second, third and fourth seasons alongside Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan. On the 2007 season finale, Hasselhoff sang "This is the Moment." He was on the show's jury for the first four seasons until being replaced by comedian Howie Mandel for season five.
In 2007, it was announced that Hasselhoff is starring in a television series pilot for E! called Tales from the Hoff. Executive produced by American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, the comedy follows an aging international star trying to navigate Hollywood life and re-energize his professional and personal life.[9] Although Hasselhoff is portraying a fictional character, elements of the show's concept parallel Hasselhoff's real life.
In February 2008- towards the end of the TV Movie Knight Rider 2008 (AKA Knight Rider SG) David reprised his career-making role as Michael Knight as he walked on to introduce himself to his on-screen son, Mike Traceur (Justin Bruening).
In December 2008, Hasselhoff sang the national anthem at the NCAA Las Vegas Bowl. Although the game was televised live by ESPN, the station chose not to broadcast Hasselhoff's performance.[10]
According to CelebTV.com, Hasselhoff will appear in the videogame Ready 2 Rumble Revolution along with other celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake and Simon Cowell.[11]
In 2009, Hasselhoff took part in "The Hoff: When Scott Came to Stay" for UK television channel Living.[12] During the two part special, Scott Mills lived with Hasselhoff for 4 days at his rented California mansion. Amongst other things they went jetskiing, visited Vegas and went to see "The Hoff Drops" (Hasselhoff's daughters) recording in the studio. The two are good friends and Hasselhoff regularly visits Mills on his radio show when in England. Mills played Hasselhoff in Scott Mills The Musical at the Edinburgh Festival. Also in 2009 Hasselhoff took part in a ghost hunting experience at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire with his daughters and Mills.[13]
In 2010, Hasselhoff guest hosted professional wrestling's WWE Monday Night Raw in London, England.
Hasselhoff returned to The Young and the Restless, reprising his role as Dr. William "Snapper" Foster Jr. for a short arc that aired in mid-June 2010.[14]
It was announced on June 9, 2010 that Comedy Central will "roast" Hasselhoff this summer. The special is expected to air Sunday, August 15 at 10/9c.[15]
Get Hasselhoff to Number 1 campaign
On April 21, 2006 fans of David Hasselhoff launched a tongue-in-cheek website "Get Hasselhoff to Number 1" in an attempt to get the 1989 hit "Looking for Freedom" to the top of the UK music charts through Internet downloads of the single. The campaign attracted attention on British radio and television broadcasts, in the national press [16][17] and on the Internet.[18][19][20] Over 40,000 people signed up to receive the "Hoff Alert" email when the time had come to purchase the single.The focus of the campaign shifted to "Jump in My Car", when that was actually released as a single, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills lent his support.[21] On October 3, 2006 the Hoff Alert was sent out, and Hasselhoff promptly gained his highest ever UK chart entry (number 3) on October 8, 2006.
HoffSpace
Hasselhoff has launched a MySpace-like social networking site, known as "HoffSpace."[22] He did so in part as a response to people opening false social-networking pages in his name,[23] as well as those of his children.[24]Personal life
Catherine Hickland |
Pamela Bach |
On June 30, 2006, Hasselhoff severed a tendon in his right arm while shaving in the bathroom of a gym in the Sanderson Hotel in London. The actor hit his head on a chandelier, which showered his arm with broken glass.[31]
Hasselhoff's autobiography Making Waves was released in the United Kingdom in September 2006. In an interview in April 2006, he promised the book would present the 'last chapter' regarding controversial elements of his personal life.[32]
On May 3, 2007, a home video clip surfaced of Hasselhoff apparently in mid-stupor. The video showed him shirtless, lying on the floor, drunkenly trying to consume a hamburger in a Las Vegas hotel room. His daughter Taylor Ann who shot the video can be heard saying "Tell me you are going to stop, tell me you are going to stop." The daughter also warns her father he could be jeopardizing his spot on the Las Vegas production of The Producers.[33] In the wake of the leaked clip, Hasselhoff issued a statement saying it was filmed by Taylor Ann so that he could see how he behaved when intoxicated and was deliberately released.[34][35]
As a result of the video, Hasselhoff's visitation rights with his two daughters were suspended on May 7, 2007 for two weeks until the video's authenticity and distributor were determined.[36] On May 14, 2007, a news report questioned whether the video had impacted negatively on the sale of the UK broadband and hosting company Pipex: a major advertising campaign in the UK for the company featured Hasselhoff as "King of the Internet."[37]
On May 3, 2009, Hasselhoff was rushed to the hospital. Radar Online attributed this to alcohol poisoning, reporting Hasselhoff's blood alcohol content (BAC) at 0.39.[38] Although Hasselhoff has publicly admitted past treatment for alcoholism,[39] his representatives denied the reports that alcohol poisoning was the reason for hospitalization.[40] On September 21, 2009, Fox News reported that he was again hospitalized for alcohol-related reasons; Hasselhoff's representatives again denied the allegation.[39] On November 27, 2009, Radar Online reported that Hasselhoff was rushed to hospital after suffering a seizure at home.[41] On May 26, 2010, he was once again rushed to hospital following a three day drinking binge.[42]
Hasselhoff is currently a practicing Lutheran.[43]
Filmography
- The Lion Roars Again (1975) (short subject)
- Revenge of the Cheerleaders (1976)
- Starcrash (1979)
- Strong Times (1988)
- Three Crazy Jerks II (1988)
- Witchery (1988)
- Bail Out (1989)
- The Final Alliance (1990)
- Neon City (1992)
- Dear God (1996)
- Legacy (1998)
- The Big Tease (1999)
- The Target Shoots First (2000)
- Welcome to Hollywood (2000)
- Layover (2001)
- The New Guy (2002)
- Fugitives Run (2003)
- Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
- A Dirty Shame (2004)
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004) as himself
- Eurotrip (2005)
- Click (2006)
- Kickin' It Old Skool (2007)
- Anaconda 3: Offspring (2008)
- Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 (2008)
- Pain (video game) (2008)
Stage work
- Chicago (London) - Billy Flynn
- Jekyll & Hyde (Broadway) - Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde
- Grease - Danny Zuko
- Jesus Christ Superstar - Judas Iscariot
- The Producers (Las Vegas) - Roger DeBris
- The Rocky Horror Show (Los Angeles) - Dr. Frank N. Furter
Television work
- The Young and the Restless (cast member from 1975–1982, 2010-present)
- Griffin and Phoenix: A Love Story (1976)
- Pleasure Cove (1979) (unsold pilot)
- Semi-Tough (1980) (unsold pilot)
- Knight Rider (1982–1986)
- The Cartier Affair (1984)
- Bridge Across Time (1985)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake (1988)
- Fire and Rain (1989)
- Baywatch (cast member from 1989–2000)
- Knight Rider 2000 (1991)
- The Bulkin Trail (1992)
- Ring of the Musketeers (1992)
- Avalanche (1994)
- Baywatch Nights (1995–1997)
- Gridlock (1996)
- Night Man (1997) (pilot for series)
- Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998)
- Whose Line Is It Anyway? (2000) (guest appearance)
- One True Love (2000)
- Jekyll & Hyde (2001)
- Shaka Zulu: The Citadel (2001)
- Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003)
- Still Standing (2006)
- Wildboyz (2006) (Guest star)
- America's Got Talent (2006–2009)
- Knight Rider (2008 NBC Movie)
- The Hoff: When Scott Came to Stay (2009)
- Meet The Hasselhoffs (2009)
- Robot Chicken (2006–2009)
- WWE Monday Night Raw (Guest host - April 12, 2010)
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | Chart positions[44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUT | GER | SWI | |||||||
1985 | Night Rocker | 1 | — | — | |||||
1987 | Lovin' Feelings | 11 | — | — | |||||
1989 | Knight Lover | — | — | 17 | |||||
Looking for Freedom | 5 | 1 | 3 | ||||||
1990 | Crazy for You | 1 | — | 1 | |||||
1991 | David | 1 | 12 | 7 | |||||
1992 | Everybody Sunshine | 16 | 21 | 17 | |||||
1993 | You Are Everything | 10 | 20 | 27 | |||||
1994 | Du | 21 | 43 | 41 | |||||
1995 | Looking for … the Best | 50 | — | — | |||||
David Hasselhoff | — | — | — | ||||||
1997 | Hooked on a Feeling | 49 | — | 41 | |||||
2000 | Magic Collection | — | — | — | |||||
2004 | David Hasselhoff Sings America | 11 | 27 | — | |||||
The Night Before Christmas | — | — | — | ||||||
2005 | David Hasselhoff Sings American Gold Edition | — | — | — | |||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Singles
Year | Single | Peak chart positions[57][58][58][59][2][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUT | FRA | GER | NED | SWI | UK | AUS | ||
1989 | "Looking for Freedom" | 1 | 12 | 1 | 31 | 1 | — | — |
"Our First Night Together" | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | |
"Is Everybody Happy?" | — | — | 8 | — | 8 | — | — | |
1990 | "Freedom for the World" | 30 | — | 48 | — | — | — | — |
"Flying on the Wings of Tenderness" | — | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | |
"Crazy for You" | 4 | — | 18 | — | 21 | — | — | |
1991 | "Do the Limbo Dance" | 1 | — | 12 | — | 19 | — | — |
"Gipsy Girl" | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Hands Up For Rock 'n' Roll" | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
1992 | "Everybody Sunshine" | 26 | — | — | — | 27 | — | — |
1993 | "Wir zwei allein" (with Gwen) | 4 | — | — | — | 10 | — | — |
"If I Could Only Say Goodbye" | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | — | |
"The Girl Forever" | — | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | |
1996 | "Hooked On A Feeling" | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2005 | "Limbo Dance" | — | — | 98 | — | — | — | — |
2006 | "Jump in My Car" | 61 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 50 |
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