The dark side of BAYWATCH

LIFE WASN'T ALWAYS A BEACH FOR THE CAST

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They're images cemented in pop culture history: Pamela Anderson's ample cleavage, 'The Hoff's' chest rug, and, of course, the snug red shorts worn by a buff and bronzed David Chokachi.

Over 12 years and 11 seasons, Baywatch followed a group of impossibly gorgeous lifeguards patrolling LA's beaches while juggling wildly entertaining personal dramas. Its combination of soap storylines and scantily clad actors saw it become one of biggest TV shows in the world, and turned its cast into bona fide global pin-ups.

"It was crazy!" David tells New Idea of his Baywatch heyday. "I remember going to the UK and seeing the fans firsthand. It was like we were The Beatles!" 

David's introduction during the show's sixth season in 1995 catapulted him to stardom. Soon replacing David Charvet as a main cast member, his character Cody Madison went on to become the romantic interest of Pamela Anderson's C.J. Parker.

As a newbie college graduate, the meteoric rise to fame could have easily gone to David's head. But the actor, now 54, says he had a solid grounding to help avoid the pitfalls associated with stardom.