"Baywatch" Star Traci Bingham Stuns At 54 — Look At Her Today

Jun 03, 2022

The American television series, Baywatch, captivated audiences long before its 2017 reboot, which swapped in Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson for David Hasselhoff. The actor had become synonymous with the series, along with skimpy red swimsuits and slow-motion shots of the lifeguards running into the surf. 

In the original, Hasselhoff and his crew of lifeguards patrolled California's beachfront, saving unsuspecting swimmers from riptides, sharks, and even the after-effects of earthquakes. Throughout its sprawling eleven seasons, the series saw a revolving door of cast members rotate into the lifeguard tower. The most recognizable were undoubtedly Hasselhof and Pamela Anderson, but over the course of the series' two hundred plus episodes, there were other stand-outs that helped establish Baywatch as one of the most iconic series of the nineties.  

Actress and model Traci Bingham got her big break as one of Hasselhof's lifeguards during the series' seventh season. Her character, Jordan Tate, first appeared as a friend of fellow lifeguard Donna Marco, played by Donna D'Errico. The dedicated and friendly Tate debuted during the episode "The Contest," in which lifeguard Hasselhof's character, Mitch, judges a beauty contest.

Beyond bringing her beauty to the Baywatch beach, Bingham also brought a much-needed dose of diversity. She was the third African-American female lifeguard and the first to be in the main cast. Remembering her audition, Bingham recalled, "The show was also catching heat that there were no people of color on the show. There was like two- or three-thousand women, I heard, that had gone out for a role."

The actress, who'd only previously starred in bit parts on series like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," rocketed to stardom once she set foot on those Southern Californian beaches. Baywatch handed those willing to daw the red suit not only overnight fame but obscene fortune. Recalling the sudden influx of money, Bingham said, "Because of Baywatch, the money I made was kind of ridiculous — absolutely ridiculous. My manager would just pull a number out of her a**, and the clients would pay up. I remember going over to Europe and for one hour to sign autographs — one hour — I got $340,000. In cash! So imagine doing that twice a week for four months?"

To Bingham, who'd grow up the youngest of seven children, this was a life-changing role. All the events and associated press that came with the series meant that she could live on just minor appearances. Remembering this easy money, Bingham admitted in an interview, "I could say that, yes, I've made over a million dollars because of Baywatch. Not necessarily my salary on Baywatch, but because of it. The endorsements, the other bookings I've gotten, not to mention all the jewelry and clothing."

However, the series came with more than just a paycheck. The lifeguards, particularly the women, we're expected to maintain a certain figure in order to keep the appeal of Baywatch strong. Those unable to fill their suits with a svelt figure fell victim to a systematic series of firings that became known as the "Baywatch Bloodbath"-- Bingham included.

The actresses of Baywatch were eyed for flaws and fluctuations in weight. Casting director, Susan Glickman, described "the theme of what [Baywatch] looked for" as "gorgeous girls who can slightly act." With thousands of women vying for a part in the ever-changing cast, there was always a looming danger that a character would be written off the series merely because an actress failed to meet the Baywatch standard. 

Bingham recalled this environment of control and fear, saying, "If you weren't on you're A-game and you weren't in shape and you didn't look right, they were going to get rid of you." Adding to this pressure were the actresses' contractual obligations, which bound them to the Baywatch body. "If you did anything to gain or lose weight, etc., you were in trouble," Bingham remembered. Nicole Eggert, who played Roberta "Summer" Quinn in the series, agreed, adding, "[There] was a five-pound fluctuation. You couldn't go up or down." While such clauses in Hollywood contracts aren't unheard of, they are rarely talked about so frankly or so publically. 

Bingham had joined the series after Anderson, the proverbial queen of Baywatch, had already established herself and set the gold standard of how Baywatch lifeguards should look. While Bingham was prepared for this level of scrutiny, she was still questioned on whether or not she was "padding [her] suit" and "harassed by one of the producers." 

Bingham managed to out-swim the ax until season eight, where she made her last appearance in "Quarantine." Afterward, the series lagged until eventually relocating to Hawaii, where Bingham said, "it wasn't Baywatch anymore."

What was your favorite "Baywatch" episode? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, and fellow Traci Bingham fans!