The 2017 Baywatch cast features a mix of world-famous movie stars and promising newcomers at the time, and they’ve all followed up with some huge projects. Baywatch marked a major cinematic reboot of the classic television series that dominated screens in the 1990s. The film infused the original’s campy charm with a modern twist. It not only aimed to capture the essence of the beloved series but also sought to broaden its appeal to a new generation. With its mix of action, comedy, and a hint of nostalgia, Baywatch offered a fresh take on the iconic show.

A significant aspect of the reboot’s appeal lay in its star-studded cast. The film featured a mix of established and rising actors, each bringing their unique flair to the characters. This casting decision was pivotal in reimagining the series for a contemporary audience, and while it is considered one of the worst movies based on TV shows, the cast wasn’t the reason why. The actors’ performances were outstanding, and they brought an equal level of comedy and bravado. The 2017 release was just a stepping stone for the Baywatch cast, who have all gone on to greater things.

Dwayne Johnson As Lieutenant Mitch Buchannon

Birthdate: May 2, 1972

Character: Dwayne Johnson stepped into the role of Lieutenant Mitch Buchannon, originally made famous by David Hᴀsselhoff. Johnson couldn’t be more different from the original actor, but the former wrestler and Hᴀsselhoff have one thing in common: charisma. Johnson’s commanding screen presence and physical appearance make him a natural fit for the part, embodying the leadership and strength characteristic of Buchannon. With a blend of humor and heroism, the role has become typical of what’s expected from Johnson, and it captures the essence of the Baywatch spirit.

Actor: Dwayne Johnson became a star thanks to WWE, but he has since become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand leading men. Since Baywatch, Johnson’s career has only continued to skyrocket. He has headlined major blockbuster films like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, as well as Jungle Cruise, Black Adam, and Hobbs & Shaw, a spin-off from the Fast & Furious franchise. In 2023, after a public feud with Vin Diesel and leaving the Fast & Furious franchise, Johnson returned in the Fast X post-credits scene.

What They’re Up To Now: The actor most recently starred in the Amazon Christmas movie Red One alongside Chris Evans, and he also reprised his role as Maui in Moana 2. Up next for Johnson, he takes on the role of Maui in a live-action adaptation of Moana. There is also a Hobbs solo movie that’s now in development. On top of his acting, Johnson is also an executive for WWE and has a talent deal where he shows up on occasion and might step back into the ring sometime in 2025.

Zac Efron As Matt Brody

Birthdate: October 18, 1987

Character: Zac Efron portrayed Matt Brody, a role that helped his transition from a teen idol to a more mature actor, untethering him from his previous Disney roles. Efron’s portrayal of Brody, a disgraced Olympic swimmer turned lifeguard, was marked by a mix of vulnerability and determination. His character’s journey of redemption was a central element of the movie, and with Efron’s physical action scenes and strong dramatic background, the actor was a scene-stealer in Baywatch.

Actor: Zac Efron got his big break as part of the High School Musical cast. Post-Baywatch, Efron has diversified his acting portfolio even further. He starred in the biographical drama Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, where he played against type, portraying the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy. The actor also explored documentary filmmaking with his own Netflix series, Down to Earth with Zac Efron, where he travels the world to experience different cultures and sustainable living practices.

Most recently, Efron used his physicality in a role once again, though this time in a less bold manner, as wrestler Kevin Von Erich in the sports biopic The Iron Claw.

What They’re Up To Now: Most recently, Efron used his physicality in a role once again, though this time in a less bold manner, as wrestler Kevin Von Erich in the sports biopic The Iron Claw. Since that movie, he appeared in the raunchy comedy Ricky Stanicky with John Cena and the romantic comedy A Family Affair with Nicole Kidman and Joey King. Up next, he will appear in the Jody Hill thriller Famous with Phoebe Dynevor and Nicholas Braun.

Alexandra Daddario As Summer Quinn

Birthdate: March 16, 1986

Character: Alexandra Daddario played Summer Quin, a formidable and compᴀssionate lifeguard in the Baywatch cast. Daddario has actually spoken out against Baywatch, commenting that the movie stalled her career progress.

Actor: Alexandra Daddario got her start with the Noah Baumbach independent movie The Squid and the Whale in a minor role before she moved on to pick up her biggest early role as Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson franchise. This led to a role in Texas Chainsaw 3D and the Dwayne Johnson movie San Andreas. Finally, she picked up a role in Baywatch in 2017.

What They’re Up To Now: In the 2020s, Daddario has taken on a variety of roles that are empowering and three-dimensional. The actor was a major part of the ensemble cast in The White Lotus season 1, playing Rachel Patton, a newlywed struggling with her marriage life and being manipulated by her husband. Following that, Daddario finally got the leading role in a series, playing Dr. Rowan Fielding in the supernatural AMC series, Mayfair Witches.

Priyanka Chopra As Victoria Leeds

Birthdate: July 18, 1982

Character: Priyanka Chopra took on the role of Victoria Leeds in Baywatch, the movie’s antagonist. Chopra’s portrayal of Leeds was notable for its sophistication and menacing charm, marking her Hollywood feature film debut. Despite being her first major Hollywood movie, Chopra’s performance as the villain was one of the most memorable parts of Baywatch.

Actor: Before making her Hollywood debut in Baywatch, Priyanka Chopra was a leading lady in Bollywood cinema since 2002. Since the 2017 movie, Chopra has been involved in a number of other Hollywood projects, including playing Sati in The Matrix Resurrections cast, the adult version of the character who was introduced in The Matrix Revolutions.

What They’re Up To Now: In 2023, Chopra took on a leading role in the romantic comedy Love Again alongside Sam Heughan. She then delivered the narration for the documentary Tiger in 2022 for Disneynature. Up next for Chopra is the movie Heads of State with John Cena and Idris Elba and The Bluff with Karl Urban. The actress also stars in the big-budget Amazon Prime Video action series, Citadel.

Jon Bᴀss As Ronnie Greenbaum

Birthdate: September 22, 1989

Character: Jon Bᴀss portrayed Ronnie Greenbaum in the Baywatch cast, who provided the most comic relief in the film mostly because of how his personality and physical appearance don’t align with the other lifeguards. Bᴀss’ performance was marked by his impeccable timing and endearing awkwardness, making Ronnie a fan favorite.

Actor: Jon Bᴀss grew up in Texas and studied theater at Boston University. He started his career on Broadway where he worked on The Book of Mormon as Elder Cunningham (the same role Josh Gad played before him). He then got his first role in television with a spot on Girls before following up with roles in The Newsroom and House of Lies. He then got a bigger role in Loving in 2016 and that led to his casting in Baywatch.

What They’re Up To Now: In the years following Baywatch, Bᴀss continued to make his mark in the comedy genre with the comedy series Miracle Workers. In 2022, Bᴀss became a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as he was cast in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, playing Todd Phelps, a misogynistic billionaire who briefly dates Jennifer Walters.

Kelly Rohrbach As C.J. Parker

Birthdate: January 21, 1990

Character: Kelly Rohrbach stepped into the role of C.J. Parker, made iconic by Pamela Anderson in the original. Rohrbach brought a fresh interpretation to the character, blending her model background with acting prowess. Her portrayal maintained the essence of C.J. while adding a modern twist.

Actor: Kelly Rohrbach was an athlete in college on a golf scholarship and studied acting after that by attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. This led to several TV roles on shows like Two and a Half Men, Rizzoli & Isles, and Broad City. She then began a modeling career before landing a role in Baywatch in 2017.

What They’re Up To Now: Since her appearance in Baywatch, Rohrback’s career has included a mix of modeling and acting. While Rohrbach has leaned more into her modeling career, on the acting front, she had a cameo as herself in Ocean’s 8 and a recurring role as Cᴀssidy Reid in the hit Western series, Yellowstone, in 2019. That was the last year that she appeared in anything, as she got married soon after and had her first baby in 2022.

Ilfenesh Hadera As Stephanie Holden

Birthdate: December 1, 1985

Character: Ilfenesh Hadera played Stephanie Holden, a character known for her leadership and strength. Hadera’s portrayal was both commanding and nuanced, capturing Stephanie’s role as a mentor and a lifeguard. While the 2017 movie wasn’t positively received by critics, Hadera was a standout in the comedy.

Actor: Ilfenesh Hadera made her acting debut in the indie movie 1/20, but her big break came when Spike Lee cast her in his remake of the thriller Oldboy in 2013. In 2015, she joined the cast of Chicago Fire as Serena Holmes and then in 2016, the cast of Billions as Deb Kawi. This led to several other roles, including a recurring role in She’s Gotta Have It and the main cast of Deception. She also appeared in The Equalizer as Michelle Chambers.

Baywatch (2017) grossed $177 million at the box office.

What They’re Up To Now: Hadera has been part of the main cast of Godfather of Harlem since 2019 and had a recurring role in Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It. Hadera returned to the big screen for the first time since Baywatch in 2024, as she starred in the action thriller The Bricklayer by Renny Harlin and the horror action film Werewolves with Frank Grillo. She next has the biggest role of her career, as she has signed on to join Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II As Sergeant Garner Ellerbee

Birthdate: July 15, 1986

Character: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II portrayed Sergeant Garner Ellerbee in the Baywatch cast, a character that required a balance of authority and humor, something that the actor has become known for. Abdul-Mateen’s movie performance was a standout, bringing both gravitas and comedic timing to the character.

Actor: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was a track star at Cal Berkeley when he decided to give acting a try. He finally got his first role when he starred in the musical drama series The Get Down on Netflix in 2016. From there, he worked on The Vanishing of Sidney Hall, which premiered at Sundance and then moved on to his role in Baywatch. He has also starred in The Greatest Showman as W.D. Wheeler and Us as Weyland.

Since his role in Baywatch, Abdul-Mateen has gained the most exposure out of the entire cast.

What They’re Up To Now: Since his role in Baywatch, Abdul-Mateen has gained the most exposure out of the entire cast. The actor played the villain in Aquaman, Dr. Manhattan in HBO’s Watchmen, and he replaced Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus in The Matrix Resurrections. In 2022, the actor starred in the action thriller Ambulance with Jake Gyllenhaal, and he’ll be playing Wonder Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2025. He will also star in the Netflix series Man on Fire, which was previously made into a Denzel Washington movie.

Bawywatch Supporting Cast

A Great Cast Of Supporting Players

Rob Huebel as Captain Thorpe – Portrayed as the comedic, somewhat clueless superior of the lifeguard team, Huebel’s performance was a highlight. Since Baywatch, the actor has appeared in the 2023 Netflix movie You People, and he has a role in the Disney+ Goosebumps reboot.

Hannibal Buress as Dave – Buress played the quirky tech expert of the Baywatch cast, adding his unique brand of humor. Post-Baywatch, the comedian has continued his stand-up career and lent his voice to major animated movies, including The Secret Life of Pets 2 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Oscar Nunez as Councilman Rodriguez – Nunez’s character was the bureaucratic hurdle for the team in Baywatch. While known for his TV comedy roles, particularly Oscar in The Office, Nunez continued to feature in major movies in the 2020s. In 2022, he featured in both The Lost City and Disenchanted.

Amin Joseph as Frankie – Joseph portrayed a tough yet loyal member of the lifeguard team. Since featuring in Baywatch, Joseph earned a main role in the FX crime drama Snowfall, playing Jerome Saint for six seasons.

Jack Kesy as Leon – Kesy’s role as the menacing villain added tension to Baywatch, and the performance opened a number of doors for him. The actor played Black Tom Cᴀssidy in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 2, Thunder in Without Remorse, and he’ll play the тιтular character in the upcoming Hellboy reboot, Hellboy: The Crooked Man.