Baywatch actress Erika Eleniak, 55, began as a child star in E.T. and later modeled for Playboy… see her now

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The actress Erika Eleniak looked unrecognizable when she was spotted in Los Angeles this week.

The well-recognized actor, aged 55, gained fame primarily through his role in the Baywatch series that spanned a period of three years, starting from 1989 and continuing until 1992.

She played Shauni McLain, the original female lead in the show’s first two seasons.

Despite facing criticism from critics and being axed by its initial network NBC following a single season, the David Hasselhoff-led show Baywatch endured for another ten seasons through syndication.

In the early ’80s, I had my first taste of the silver screen starring alongside Steven Spielberg in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. Towards the end of that decade, I decided to reinvent myself and embarked on a new journey as a Playboy Playmate.

Today, over four decades since her debut in Hollywood, DailyMail.com offers a glimpse into how Erika appears today.

This week, the former actress and model was spotted in Los Angeles, strolling with her charmingly spotted canine companion of black and white hue.

Erika appeared strikingly different from the neatly groomed blonde who was a familiar face on national TV before.

A noticeable alteration was evident in the design of tattoos on her arms, visible even beneath the cuffs of her T-shirts, extending down to her hands.

During her Baywatch days, she often displayed much unblemished skin. However, the color of this ink represented a significant change from that era.

The tattoos on Erika perfectly matched her laid-back attire, which consisted of a black T-shirt adorned with the character Tinker Bell from the 1953 Disney animation, Peter Pan.

‘Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust,’ it read, referencing a line from the movie.

She maintained a subdued atmosphere by wearing black cargo shorts adorned with a striped rainbow down one leg – specifically featuring shades of pink, white, and gray. Her pink slide sandals complemented this stripe perfectly.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’d say I complemented my ensemble with a chic, black leather waist pouch, and styled my medium-parted, slightly curled blonde tresses to perfection.

During the latest episode of the Still Here Hollywood podcast, hosted by Steve Kmetko, Erika discussed her transformation in looks, which she achieved by getting tattoos.

She disclosed that she began getting tattoos on her back during her late twenties, a timeframe that came after her tenure on Baywatch concluded at the beginning of the third season.

She mentioned that each of her tattoos holds a special meaning, with one bearing her mother’s name as an illustration.

‘I love tattoos. I love that my body is a canvas to tell my stories,’ she added.

Erika hails from Glendale, California, and has roots that trace back to families of Ukrainian, Estonian, and German ancestry who originally resided in Canada before her birth.

In 1982, she delivered an unforgettable performance in several movies, particularly one where she played a character who shared a significant kiss with Henry Thomas during a class scene. This scene was special because his character was being affected psychically by the film’s extraterrestrial title character.

Her next film role was in 1983’s Imps*, which only received a belated release in 2009. 

1987 saw her debut on television, taking on guest spots for shows like Silver Spoons, The New Leave It to Beaver (also known as Still the Beaver), and Boys Will Be Boys.

Following a prolonged hiatus, she made her comeback to acting in 1988 by starring as one of the victims in the gruesome reboot of The Blob. Today, this film is recognized as a beloved cult classic within the realm of science fiction horror.

She went on to appear in larger-budget films, such as Steven Seagal’s action flick “Under Siege”, the 1993 remake of “The Beverly Hillbillies”, the romantic comedy “A Pyromaniac’s Love Story” from 1995, and the spinoff movie based on “Tales From The Crypt” titled “Bordello Of Blood” in 1996.

In the late ’90s, 2000s, and even up until recently in the 2020s, she didn’t make as many films, and those she did were often low-budget, indie projects.

In the latest movie released in 2024, titled “Lolipop Gang,” Erika made an appearance, five years following her last film role where she was cast.

In the same year (1989), while gaining recognition in prominent movies, she simultaneously worked for three episodes alongside Scott Baio in “Charles In Charge”, and subsequently joined the cast of “Baywatch”.

Initially, she made an appearance on the TV movie pilot of Panic At Malibu Pier as Shauni McClain. Later, during the first two seasons, she became a regular cast member.

Her character entered into a romantic partnership with Billy Warlock’s character, Eddie Kramer, during the first part of the third season. They got married and subsequently relocated to Australia, marking the end of her appearance in the show.

The actors were also engaged in real life at one point. 

1989 marked the start of her career as a Baywatch lifeguard, which also happened to be the year she graced the cover of the July 1989 issue of Playboy Magazine.

Prior to her time on Baywatch, Erika graced the cover of Playboy Magazine’s July 1989 issue. This opportunity came about when her modeling roommate connected her with the magazine’s photo editor, who was impressed enough to invite her to model for them.

In the late ’80s, Erika gained a reputation as the challenging Playmate due to her unease during photo shoots for the magazine and her resistance to suggestions from photographers.

She made it clear on Still Here Hollywood that she saw her role as more of a modeling position. Furthermore, she has always viewed herself primarily as an actress who happened to work for Playboy, not as a genuine Playmate.

In 1998, I exchanged vows with bodybuilder Philip Golgia, but our marriage didn’t last beyond six months. By the early 2000s, I found myself in a new relationship with film industry professional Roch Daigle. We decided to embark on a fresh chapter together and relocated to Calgary, Canada. In 2005, we officially became husband and wife, and later added a precious daughter to our family.

As per IMDb, the latest project Erika completed was telling a story through an eight-part podcast series titled “The Murder Years” which was released in the previous year.

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2025-06-28 16:37