When you think of Baywatch, one babe in particular comes to mind: Pamela Anderson as the beautiful blonde bombshell CJ Parker. Here, you’ll learn more about Anderson, her breakthrough role on Baywatch, and what the actress is up to now.
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Who Is Pam Anderson?
Pamela Anderson is an actress, model, and activist. Although she’s appeared in dozens of films and television shows, most people still recognise Anderson from Baywatch.
Before her iconic role, Anderson only had one other acting credit – she played Lisa a.k.a. the Tool Time Girl on Home Improvement for two seasons. Prior to that, Anderson was mostly famous for her work with Playboy. She appeared on the cover more times than any other model and even wrote the foreword for the magazine’s coffee table book.
What Is Baywatch?
Baywatch was a popular drama action series that originally premiered in 1989. The show focused on the lives and relationships of a team of lifeguards on the California coast. Plotlines usually revolved around drowning beach-goers, shark attacks, and, of course, love and friendship.
The show was a huge success and became the most-watched TV show at the time. It spawned multiple reboots, spin-offs, porn parodies, and even a Baywatch 2017 reboot starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Zac Efron, and Alexandra Daddario.
Was Pam Anderson A Lead On Baywatch?
Anderson played CJ Parker, one of the head lifeguards. The Parker character quickly became a fan favourite. With her long blonde hair and exceptional good looks (especially in that classic red swimsuit), audiences loved Anderson. But it was CJ’s sweet and helpful personality that really won people over.
CJ first appeared in the first episode of season 3 of the original series. Anderson would continue to play CJ for four more seasons, becoming one of the longest-serving characters on the show. After leaving the show in 1997, Anderson reprised her role for the Baywatch movie reunion in 2003.
Who Were Pamela Anderson’s Co-Stars?
There were dozens of main and recurring cast members for the original Baywatch run. Some of Anderson’s most famous co-stars included:
- David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon
- Yasmine Bleeth as Caroline Holden
- Nicole Eggert as Summer Quinn
How Long Was Pamela Anderson On Baywatch?
Anderson played CJ Parker from season 3 to season 7 of the show. After four years on Baywatch, she quit the show to pursue other acting and modelling opportunities. She did come back (along with other cast members) in 2003 for Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.
Did Pamela Anderson Win Any Awards For Her Role As CJ On Baywatch?
Pamela Anderson was nominated for ‘Best Female Television Star’ two years in a row at the Bravo Otto Awards. In 1994, she received the bronze medal, with Jennie Garth taking the gold. In 1995, she received the silver medal, with Heike Makatsch of Love, Actually fame taking first place.
In 1997, the same year she left the show, she also won a ‘Sour Apple Award’, an award presented to people in showbiz who are notoriously difficult to work with. Her ex-husband Tommy Lee also received the award in 1998.
How Did The Public View Baywatch’s Pamela Anderson?
Although she had already appeared in the pages of Playboy, it was her role as CJ Parker that cemented Anderson’s status as a sex symbol. This was further bolstered by the leak of Anderson’s homemade sex tape with then-husband Tommy Lee in 1995 as well as her multiple whirlwind marriages to industry ‘bad boys’.
What Happened To Pam Anderson After Baywatch?
After Baywatch, Anderson fully embraced her sex symbol status. Her ‘assets’ became iconic; Anderson even got a second boob job, increasing her already-enhanced 34D’s to 34DD. The Playboy cover girl continued to pose in skimpy bikinis or in the nude. She also starred in a 2008 striptease performance at the famous Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris as well as the Stan Lee-inspired animated TV series Striperella.
In contrast to her sexy image (and all of the nude pics on the internet), Anderson spent most of her time raising her two sons from her first marriage.
Pam Anderson’s Career Highlights
Besides Baywatch, Anderson has had several other career successes. In 1998, just a year after her final episode on the show that made her famous, Anderson’s next big TV project premiered: V.I.P., which would run for four seasons. Anderson’s also appeared in several movies (mostly playing herself), such as Scary Movie 3, Borat, and SPF-18.
Pamela Anderson is a huge draw for reality TV. In 2005, Comedy Central honoured her by making her the subject of one of their famous roasts. The actress has also guest-starred in multiple international versions of the Big Brother franchise, including India, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and Germany.
Another reality TV franchise she has been heavily involved with is Dancing with the Stars, having appeared in the American, Argentinian, and French editions of the show.
Where Is Pamela Anderson Now?
Although Anderson’s career hit its peak in the ‘90s and 2010s, the model hasn’t run out of work. She most recently appeared in the French comedy film Nicky Larson et le Parfum de Cupidon. She also guest-starred in the reality TV show The Hills: New Beginnings in support of her son Brandon, who is one of the main characters.
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