Casey Jean "C.J." Parker is the main protagonist of the American television show Baywatch. She is one of the main head lifeguards on the show.
C.J. was portrayed by actress and model Pamela Anderson in the TV series and a few movies, and later by model Kelly Rohrbach in the 2017 film version. In the film, Anderson had a cameo as Captain Casey Jean.
Personality[]
C.J. has a positive, bubbly personality, always happy and open-minded. She's honest and has strong moral principles. She is a brave, determined, self-sacrificing and hard-working lifeguard who dives right in when the situation demands it.
Her friendliness, dedication and professionalism has earned her the respect and friendship of her team mates. She is a loyal and good friend, her two best friends being Stephanie Holden and Caroline Holden; she's also close with Mitch Buchannon. She is widely popular with the rest of the team. C.J. generally likes everybody, but she has shown her dislike for a couple of members: Neely Capshaw because of her scheming and conniving attitude and Logan Fowler for his selfishness, recklessness and rash methods on the team.
Outwardly, C.J. is a girly-girl, she dresses and behaves in a traditionally feminine style, but her interests are rougher and tougher. As much as she loves to talk about dating and relationships she loves sports and athletic activies, like kick-boxing, white-water rafting, and scuba diving, even more. At heart she is a tomboy.
C.J. never hesitates to help someone in need whether it is people or animals which is the main reason why she is a lifeguard.
Another of C.J.'s endearing qualities is that she is credulous, that is, she easily believes in things such as mermaids, ghosts and and other mythical creatures. She is a vegetarian as she loves animals and rather spends time with them than eating them.
Physical Appearance[]
C.J. is an athletic young woman with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She is extremely attractive and a real head-turner. Her gorgeous looks is both a blessing and a curse, sometimes helping her perform her duties, while at other times making it harder.
Despite having an ample bosom, C.J. has a firm, athletic body and she occasionally displays a distinctively defined biceps. The actress, Pamela Anderson before she had been discovered had been a fitness instructor and had had dreams of becoming a female bodybuilder. This training was still visible when she became C.J.. The muscle definition gave way in later seasons making C.J. a bit more 'softer'.
She is 170 cm (5'7") and 57-61 kg (126 to 135 lb). Her presumed measurements are 36C-25-34
She was was 22-years-old when she rejoined Baywatch as a senior ocean lifeguard in season three; she was 27 in season seven.
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Height: 170 cm (5'7") Build: Athletic Body Shape: Inverted Triangle Shoe Size: 8 (US), 40 (EU) to 9 (US), 41.5 (EU) Hair: Blonde Age: 22 (season 3), 27 (season 7) Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA |
Weight: 57 to 61 kg (126 to 135 lb) Measurements: 36C - 25 - 34 Eyes: Blue Birthdate: 1970 Education: High School |
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Skills and Abilities[]
C.J. loved athletics and outdoor life. Her skills reflected this – in addition to being a superb swimmer and diver, C.J.'s skills included, kayaking, white water rafting, rock climbing and rappelling, various other outdoor skills, athletics, hang gliding, scuba diving, rowing, surfing, hang-gliding, lifeguard competitions, running, kick-boxing and even playing the saxophone.
To stay in shape her daily routine included strength training in the HQ's gym and for aerobic exercises she did running, swimming and kick boxing. Yoga was also part of her training. She displayed great strength, stamina, speed and flexibility – without doubt, C.J. was the most athletic and fittest female lifeguard on Baywatch and one of the fittest lifeguards overall.
C.J. was a skilled martial artist but her actual level of profienccy is unknown. Despite that she was often seen punching a boxing bag in the gym or training kick-boxing with a trainer, she was rarely seen in situations where she could use her unarmed combat skills.
Despite her young age, C.J. was already a veteran lifeguard and the most experienced female lifeguard in season 3. Her natural athleticism, versatility and wide skill set made C.J. one of the best if not the best lifeguard on Baywatch. A good indication of her ability was that she was in charge even when patrolling with her superior, lt. Stephanie Holden (e.g. S03E09 Masquerade, 9 Nov. 1992).
Socially C.J. was really adept, few if anybody could say that they disliked her. Of course, her positivity, kindness, unearthly beauty and natural charisma were part of the reason why she was good at persuasion and seduction, but it was her intelligence and knowledge that made her a good leader and friend.
In her free time C.J. had a part-time job as the volleyball coach at Malibu High.
Like all Baywatch lifeguards C.J. was expected to be able to handle all the land and water vehicles at their disposal, including the Baywatch trucks, the quad bikes, the Scarab boats and the jet skis.
C.J. was highly skilled at Lifeguard Rescue Skills, that is, she was able to assess the victim’s condition, perform an appropriate rescue, move the victim to safety be it by swimming, jet ski or boat and provide additional care like first aid or CPR as needed. She was also an able leader and skilled trainer in the aforementioned skills.
Early life[]
C.J. was born and raised in Las Vegas along with her younger brother. Her mother, Shelley Sands, was an entertainer while her father worked in a hotel. He was also a gambler who lost the family's money in an attempt to get rich.
C.J. moved to Los Angeles at a young age where she became an ocean lifeguard on Baywatch. Thanks to her athleticism and dedication she quickly became a skilled lifeguard. About four years before season 3, at the age of 18 or 19, she had already become a senior lifeguard. She left Baywatch to become a Class V whitewater rafting guide at Southfork Rapids.
In the episode Sky Rider (S04E05) it was revealed that C.J. had suffered from bulimia in her youth. She had also developed a gambling problem due to her father who was a gambling addict; she only got rid of the problem in the two-part episode Vacation (S03E15 & 16).
Baywatch[]
Season 3[]
After meeting Mitch, his son Hobie and fellow lifeguards Eddie and Shauni (who eventually got married and left for Australia) on a river rafting trip, she was asked to come back to Baywatch. C.J. agreed and passed the rookie test and rejoined the team along with Matt Brody and Summer Quinn . She rented an apartment that was also owned by another lifeguard named Stephanie who didn't like the way she treated their home, but they eventually overcame their differences and became good friends.
C.J. also formed a relationship with fellow lifeguard John D. Cort, but he eventually left the team leaving her heartbroken.
Many things happened during her first year back at Baywatch these included being caught in a an attempt to blow up the city pier by thugs (Dead of Summer) and involvement in a treasure hunt during a weekend in Catalina (Island of Romance) and a bizzare group of scientists looking for Extra-Terrestrials (Strangers Among Us).
Season 4[]
Cort arrived back at Baywatch and C.J. hoped to rekindle their relationship, but she was concerned about him losing his eyesight. It turned out that he had Degenerative Eye Disease which would eventually make him blind and unable to continue his lifeguard duties. Unable to cope with this, Cort left Baywatch once again (Blindside).
C.J. found out that her friend Summer was suffering from a severe eating disorder and helped her to overcome it.She also befriended a magician and escape artist who she eventually had to save after he almost drowned during a dangerous stunt (Tower of Power).
During a vacation in San Diego, she befriended and then fell in love with a man named Keith at a sea life park, but to her disappointment found out he was already in a relationship with someone (Coronado Del Sol Parts I and II).
Season 5[]
Summer left for college for college back east and Stephanie's younger sister Caroline moved into their apartment after she left her husband. She and C.J. soon became good friends. She later with Hobie's help saved a homeless man who was trapped under the pier (Living on the Fault Line Parts I and II).
Cort unexpectedly came back hoping once again to rekindle his relationship with her. But C.J. and Matt soon stated dating after Caroline kept on turning him down and they started having feelings for each other (Baja Run).
During Christmas, C.J. helped out with a local church program for homeless children and became attracted to minister Father Sam Ryan whom she later thought was leaving the church because of her. But it was revealed that he was going on a retreat and leaving another minister in his place (Silent Night, Baywatch Night Parts I and II).
C.J. finds Cort under her and Matt's lifeguard tower, homeless, almost completely blind and on the verge of gving up. C.J. sees it as her duty to help him, provoking Matt to jealousy, but she tells him she loves him not Cort and is only doing it because she always helps someone in need (Deep Trouble).
A new lifeguard named Neely from Huntingdon came to work at Baywatch and C.J. began to have her suspicions of her when she chose to work with Matt on her first day and began flirting with him, even though her told her loved C.J.
Their relationship took a turn for the worst when Neely sued Matt on a bogus sexual harassment charge after he had found out she had been drinking on duty and reported it to Mitch.
As a result Matt was suspended until further investigations could be made. However C.J. tricked Neely into making a recorded confession as evidence which dropped the charges against Matt and fired Neely from Baywatch making their relationship even stronger (Wet 'n' Wild).
Season 6[]
Matt left Baywatch sometime later, unable to cope with what had happened. C.J. was none too pleased when Neely was reinstated as she blamed her for Matt's departure. She eventually left for a holiday in Europe.
After returning, she goes on girls junior lifeguard trip to Catalina with Stephanie, Caroline, and Neely (much to her displeasure) where they tried to teach the girls the values of teamwork after two of them got trapped in an underwater cave and even C.J. had to admit she admired Neely's willingness to participate (Leap of Faith).
She saved an injured sea lion named Max who then kept following her around. She let him into Baywatch Headquarters which caused great trouble for Caroline and the other lifeguards as the creature was always causing big messes in places such as the first aid room so she took him home until the sea mammal rescue team found him and took him home to Shoreline Attractions (Hit and Run).
C.J. was surprised when Matt came back to Baywatch, though she wasn't sure whether to take him back after he abandoned her afraid that she would get hurt again. She and Matt agree to rekindle their relationship gradually one step at a time (Home is Where the Heat is).
She, Caroline and Neely and other lifeguards competed for a photo shoot for Inside Sports magazine, however they both contracted chicken pox and the job went to Neely, much to their distraught (Beauty and the Beast).
She even helped pro-wrestler Hulk Hogan to prevent the Venice Boys Youth centre from being closed down (Bash at the Beach).
C.J. then tried to rekindle her relationship with Matt further by having a holiday in Hawaii for a week to oversee new lifeguard techniques. However it was cut short after she had to return home to headquarters and what happened afterwards is unknown which assumes that their relationship was ended for good because C.J. formed a new relationship with fellow lifeguard Cody Madison (Forbidden Paradise Part I), (Go for the Gold).
Season 7[]
While on patrol on the beach, C.J. helped and befriended a homeless man named Max who owned a cart that sold old Hollywood fashions. When he passed on he left C.J. everything in his will as well as $1000 which she decided to donate to the homeless shelters (Liquid Assets).
Cody got evicted from his home so C.J. allowed him to temporarily stay with her and Caroline until he found a new place (Stephanie had gone away for a few months to spend time with her new boyfriend Tom).
Unfortunately, it did not go well, as the two women start annoying each other, and other problems arise when Cody accidentally leaves his green sweatshirt to mix in Caroline's whites and throws away the cheque to pay the electric bill. Eventually, they overcame their problems when Cody said that if they can save lives together, they should be able to live together (Beach Blast).
C.J.'s mother, Shelley Sands, came to visit to ask her daughter's help. Shelley had taken an incrimination of the illegal gambling and income tax evasion schemes of her mobster ex-boyfriend, Tony Malanto, and now he was after her to get it back. C.J. confronted Malanto along with her mum and told him to leave them both alone or the disk would be handed over to authorities before throwing a cold drink on his robe.
However, they got captured and C.J. was sent to retrieve the disk that Shelley had hidden in her locker during her visit in exchange for their lives. C.J. succeeded, but Malanto broke his deal and tried to drown them, but fortunately Mitch and Cody had followed C.J. and helped take out the mobster and his goons. Shelley left Los Angeles afterwards to seek a new life, but promised she would be back to visit her daughter again (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner).
In the Ironman challenge, C.J. and some other female lifeguards took part in the competition to demonstrate women's rights for competing, but trouble ensued when her old Australian boyfriend Johno was there making her very uncomfortable on the effect it would have on Cody. Eventually the two men ended up in a fight which turned out to be a ruse to cure C.J.'s paranoia (Let the Games Begin).
After Mitch became ill from swimming in water polluted by a toxic chemical, C.J., Cody and Caroline found the source and helped develop an antidote that cured him (Heal the Bay).
Stephanie returned and Tom proposed to her with C.J. as one of the guests at the wedding. But tragedy struck when Stephanie was killed during a rescue on her honeymoon. C.J. was at her funeral with the other lifeguards as Mitch delivered a eulogy on how much they all loved and would greatly miss Stephanie with C.J. remembering with tears in her eyes, the good times they had together (Chance of a Lifetime).
Cody saw a mermaid named Mellisande who mistook him for her previous lover. C.J. was the only one who believed him and they eventually found her but decided to keep her a secret from the world, knowing how much harm it would do, referring to what happened to the mermaid Madison in the movie Splash (Rendezvous).
After babysitting for a friend, C.J. wanted to be a mother also, but to her disappointment found out that Cody wasn't ready for that kind of commitment (Trial by Fire).
During a rescue C.J. found an injured sea lion and took him to an animal recovery facility at Sea World in San Diego. While Mitch and the other lifeguards were tracking down the ones responsible, she bonded with him and called him "Leo". The sea lion made a full recovery and was eventually released. C.J. was sad to see him go, but knew he would now be happy as the the fishermen who hunted him were now imprisoned. She turned down a working position at Sea World as she saw being a lifeguard her opportunity to save lives both people and animals (Baywatch at Sea World).
Later, C.J. encountered a disfigured man named Adran who was sending her gifts and poems because she resembled his late sweetheart. When she injured her knee after a pier support beam fell on her, he rescued her and took her back to his domain. He tells her his story of his disfigurement and she feels sorry for him and promises to help him anyway she can. Two thugs burst in and tried to capture him, but one of them fell in the sea and Adran rescued him. While Adran and one of the thugs were recovering in hospital. The other one was arrested. Cody then proposed to C.J. regretting how much he had forgotten about her (Nevermore).
It is not shown what C.J.'s answer was, but later Cody reveals that she left Baywatch to run a bar in Mexico and married a rock star.
Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding[]
C.J.'s marriage to the rock star had failed so she then opened a place called C.J.'s Bar and Grill at a hotel resort called Turtle Bay in Hawaii and had former lifeguard Lani McKenzie as her entertainer. There she invited her friends from Los Angeles and other lifeguards from Baywatch. Even though she swore she was off men for good, she eventually fell in love with one of the resort waiters named Lorenzo and married again with Mitch giving her away at the altar.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Because Anderson had posed for Playboy David Hasselhoff was not sure she would be appropriate for the show. Meeting her in person changed his mind.
- Pamela's innocent beauty and athletic ability made an impression on the producers.
- Both Alexandra Paul and Pamela Anderson auditioned for the role of C.J. Parker. Anderson got the role as Paul was not deemed athletic nor buxom enough.
- Anderson aced the informal but demanding swimming, diving and running test that all would-be lifeguards had to pass. Not everbody passed the test.
- Despite not liking to be in the water for extended times Pamela was an excellent swimmer.
- Unlike many of the other performers on the show, Paul and Anderson always insisted on doing their own swimming and diving scenes. "Pamela was really good in the water. I don't recall she ever had a stunt double swimming or diving for her. I [Alexandra Paul] had a stunt double during the first season and halfway through the second. Not because I wanted one."
- Like how Alexandra Paul's abilities affected her character Stephanie Holden so also did Pamela's abilities affect C.J.'s. Pam had trained kick-boxing from the late eighties and this was added to C.J.'s skill repertoire. Even though she never used it, C.J. was shown training kick-boxing in a number of episodes.
- The character C.J. Parker was supposed to be the female action character. This role was later partly transferred to Neely Capshaw and Stephanie Holden. The decrease in physical scenes was partly due to Anderson's pregnancies, first in 95-96 and then again in 97.
- With increased popularity C.J.'s role changed after her first season from being more action oriented to being more eye-candy, something that Anderson was not entirely happy with.