David Hasselhoff, the 72-year-old former “Baywatch” and “Knight Rider” star, raised eyebrows this week when he was seen using a wheelchair at an airport. The actor was photographed being assisted by airport staff as he departed from Cancun, Mexico, on Monday, May 6. Later, upon his return to Los Angeles, he was again seen being helped, this time at LAX.
Hasselhoff, dressed in a striped button-down shirt, dark pants, a baseball cap, and rainbow socks, was seen being wheeled through the airport. Despite the concerning sight, the actor managed to flash a smile and give a thumbs-up to the cameras before slowly getting out of the wheelchair and walking with the assistance of his wife, Hayley Roberts, who is 45.
To quell any concerns, Hasselhoff reportedly told fans at LAX that he was using a wheelchair due to an upcoming knee surgery scheduled for the following week. His representative confirmed the news of the operation to The Post on Wednesday, adding that Hasselhoff and his wife had just returned from a pleasant vacation in Cancun.
However, sources close to the actor have expressed concerns about his health. One insider told the Daily Mail that Hasselhoff’s health has been deteriorating due to years of alcohol abuse. The source added that the actor, who is now in his 70s, has undergone several major surgeries, including the installation of a defibrillator to prevent a heart attack.
The actor’s appearance in Cancun and Los Angeles comes just two months after his ex-wife, Pamela Bach, tragically took her own life in her Hollywood Hills home at the age of 62. Hasselhoff, who did not attend Bach’s funeral, expressed his family’s deep sadness over her passing in a statement.
Hasselhoff and Bach, who met on the set of “Knight Rider” in 1985 and married in 1989, had two daughters together. Despite their divorce in 2006, they continued to litigate spousal support until 2017. Prior to Bach, Hasselhoff was married to actress and singer Catherine Hickland from 1984 to 1989. He married his current wife, Welsh model Hayley Roberts, in 2018.