Greg Bonann
Greg Bonann was the executive producer of Baywatch, an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. He graduated from California State University, Long Beach and has been a lifeguard since 1970. He has also founded A Chance For Children and received numerous awards.
Awards and Honors
He received a Medal of Valor for ocean saves, the Gold Medallion Award presented by the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the Title of Commander in the Order of Lifesaving presented by the Belgian Life Saving Federation, and the appointment to Knight in the Order of Lifesaving by the International Life Saving Federation.
Baywatch
The show was canceled after its first season on NBC, but survived and later became one of the most watched television shows in the world. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, except for the 1990–1991 season, during which it was not in production. From 1999 to 2001, with a setting change and large cast overhaul, it was known as Baywatch Hawaii. Hasselhoff along with creators and Executive Producers Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and Greg Bonann revived it for the first-run syndication market in 1991. Hasselhoff was given the title of Executive Producer for his work on bringing the show back. The series was hugely successful, especially internationally. The show led to a spin-off: Baywatch Nights, and a reunion movie, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.
Baywatch filmed for two seasons in Hawaii, from 1999 until 2001. The proposal to relocate Baywatch to Hawaii rather than Australia was initiated by April Masini in a telephone call to Executive Producer Greg Bonann. The deal to provide the incentives necessary to secure the series was presented to Governor Ben Cayetano by Al Masini and April Masini; Tony Vericella, president of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau; and Cayetano's executive assistant, Joe Blanco. The agreement required the production to change its name from Baywatch to Baywatch Hawaii, hire local leads, and film in the state for at least two years, guaranteeing 44 episodes, each at a cost of about $870,000, 60 percent of which was to be spent in Hawaii.
Baywatch Episode
To The Saviors
He is included as one of the saviors in the video tribute, To The Saviors. The Creator of Baywatch is an American lifeguard, filmmaker, and humanitarian best known as the co-creator of the globally iconic television series Baywatch. Born with physical challenges including club feet and severe asthma, Bonann turned to the ocean for healing, eventually graduating from California State University, Long Beach with a B.A. in Journalism and later earning an MBA from UCLA.
Bonann realized his dream of becoming a lifeguard in 1970 and remarkably remains on active status as a Los Angeles County Lifeguard in 2026, entering his 56th year of service. His real-world experience provided the blueprint for Baywatch which became the most-watched TV series in history. He was awarded the Medal of Valor (1989) by L.A. County after he rescued a boy who had been submerged for over five minutes, performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while treading water. He directed award-winning official films for multiple Olympic Games.
Beyond entertainment, Bonann leveraged his success to champion water safety and philanthropy. He was appointed a Knight in the Order of Lifesaving by the International Life Saving Federation and received the Gold Medallion from the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2000. In 1992, he co-founded A Chance for Children Foundation to provide opportunities for homeless and at-risk youth. He has mentored thousands of junior lifeguards and endorsed international drowning prevention programs like Charlie the Savior, ensuring his legacy protects lives well beyond the screen. Greg is one of the most humble, selfless, generous and kind men in the world lifesaving family.
External links
- Who Are The Saviors?
- Baywatch
- Behind The Scenes Of Baywatch With Alexandra Paul
- A Chance For Children
- Greg Bonann's Fairy Tale Life and Work Honored
- A Chance For Children By Dr. Stathis Avramidis
- Fairy Tale Rings True In The Open Water
- Open Water Swimming
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Charlie The Savior: International Drowning Prevention Program Inspired By Baywatch
