David Hasselhoff turned 73 in the summer of 2026, and this year has tested him more than most. The actor known worldwide for his roles in Knight Rider and Baywatch underwent both hip and knee replacement surgery, and fans were startled to see him photographed using a wheelchair and later a walker during his recovery. By spring, he was seen hiking trails near his home in California with the help of trekking poles, leaning on his wife for support as he slowly regained his strength.

His career has spanned more than five decades. He first became a household name playing Dr. Snapper Foster on The Young and the Restless, then went on to star as Michael Knight in Knight Rider and lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch, a role that made him one of the most recognized faces on television around the world. He also built a successful music career in Europe and later became a familiar face to a new generation as a judge on talent competition shows in the UK and Germany.

At his side through this difficult year has been his wife, Hayley Roberts, a former shop assistant from Wales whom he married in 2018. The couple met in Cardiff when Roberts approached him for an autograph, and despite a nearly 28 year age gap, she has often said she does not let the difference worry her. Hasselhoff is also a proud father to two daughters, Taylor Ann and Hayley, from his second marriage, both of whom have followed him into entertainment.

Hasselhoff has always kept his youthful look under close watch from fans and photographers. He has openly admitted to using Botox over the years, explaining in past interviews that it simply smooths out frown lines and that he prefers to stay as natural as possible for as long as he can. He has firmly denied ever having a facelift, even as speculation about other cosmetic treatments has followed him for years. Friends close to him describe his approach to aging as relaxed, crediting his fitness routine and positive outlook more than any procedure.

Despite the health setbacks of the past year, those who have seen him recently say he is in good spirits and recovering well from his surgeries. With physical therapy underway and his wife by his side at every step, David Hasselhoff seems determined to prove that his famous energy has not gone anywhere, even as he embraces a new chapter of his life.