David Chokachi is opening up about what it was like playing Pamela Anderson’s love interest on Baywatch.
The 58-year-old actor appeared on the Monday, Mar. 30 episode of Pod Meets World, chatting with former Boy Meets World stars and current podcast co-hosts Danielle Fishel, (Topanga) , Rider Strong (Shawn) and Will Friedle (Eric) about the iconic 1990s show.
Chokachi played Cody Madison in the show from 1995 to 1999, appearing as love interest to Anderson’s C.J. Parker.
On the podcast, the actor said it was his decision who his character would pursue on the show. “It was a little bit surreal because they actually had come to me. I had like earned my status really quickly up the ladder and they were like, ‘We’re give you the option for a girlfriend on the show. Do you want Pam or Yasmin?’ And I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ ”
While he said he “loved” co-star Yasmin Bleeth, he ultimately told producers he felt his character should date Anderson’s character.
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“I’m like, ‘Yeah, Pam.’ For a number of reasons, but mainly because, you know, we just had this, there was kind of a goofiness to both of us … it was like nobody else was around us,” he said.
Chokachi added that he grew up in New England and was “unaware of like the hype” surrounding the actress at the time, saying, “I was obsessed with movies and actors, but I wasn’t intimidated by other actors or actresses. It was more, you know, it was just, I kind of felt like I belonged.”