Mitch Buchannon
| Mitchell "Mitch" Buchannon | |
|---|---|
| Baywatch character | |
 |
|
| First appearance | "Panic at Malibu Pier" (1989) |
| Last appearance | Baywatch (2017) |
| Portrayed by |
David Hasselhoff (Television series) Dwayne Johnson (film) |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | Mitch |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Lieutenant lifeguard (1989-1997) Private detective (1995-1997) Captain lifeguard (1997-2000) |
| Family | Buzz (brother) |
| Significant other(s) | Gayle Buchannon (ex-wife) |
| Children | Hobie Buchannon |
| Nationality | American |
Mitchell "Mitch" Buchannon is a fictional character from the television series Baywatch. He was played by David Hasselhoff in every season of Baywatch and Baywatch Nights plus in the first season of Baywatch Hawaii. He also appeared in three films, Baywatch the Movie: Forbidden Paradise (1995), Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay (1998) and Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding (2003).
Mitch was the main character from the series premiere of Baywatch in 1989 to the penultimate season of Baywatch Hawaii in 2000, when David Hasselhoff decided to leave the series as an actor (though he retained his position as executive producer). As the years progressed, Mitch increasingly served as a mentor and father figure to many of the younger lifeguards at Baywatch headquarters, helping them in work-related matters, and also issues in their personal lives.
Mitch was the youngest son of Al and Irene Buchannon. He was born c. 1954, though his age varies depending upon the episode. He had an older brother named Buzz and the two got along quite well despite their very different personalities. While Buzz was the carefree brother who did what he wanted, Mitch was much more responsible. Buzz left home at a very early age, leaving Mitch as the only child at home. When Mitch was 12, he received a Fender Mustang guitar that Buzz let him have. Years later, Mitch recalled the guitar fondly and dreamed of what his life would be like if he were a musician. The episode cleverly used footage of David Hasselhoff's musical career (though Hasselhoff himself never played any instruments) to show Mitch's daydreams of stardom. In one episode, Mitch was invited onstage to sing alongside Little Richard during a performance of "Good Golly, Miss Molly."
In 1972, Mitch graduated from West Palisades High School, where he sang in a band. At his 20 year reunion, he was pressured into singing on stage. He later married his high school sweetheart, Gayle (played by Wendie Malick), and they had a son, Hobie, who Mitch named after the surfboard company of the same name. While Mitch and Gayle loved each other, they eventually divorced. Gayle felt Mitch was too invested in his work and she couldn't handle all the time he had invested into his career. Mitch did not want to divorce, and he continued to love Gayle for a time, even after the marriage had ended.
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Wikipedia