61-Year-Old Actress Found Dead After Final Call

Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, 2009. Photo by Toglenn. Public domain.

The last message Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff gave her daughter was that she "loved her very much," according to PEOPLE — a phrase that now echoes with unbearable weight.

Just hours later, the former "Baywatch Nights" actress and ex-wife of David Hasselhoff was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was 61 years old.

A Morning Call That Would Change Everything

The call came early — 7:45 a.m. on March 5. Pamela told her daughter she loved her. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But when calls and texts later went unanswered, her daughter rushed to her L.A. home. Pamela was unresponsive in bed. Paramedics were called. No note. No signs of foul play. Just silence.

Inside the Toxicology Report

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the cause of death was suicide. The toxicology report revealed Pamela had Benzodiazepines, Clonazepam, and 7-Aminoclonazepam in her system — medications often prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders.

These drugs, while legal and common, are powerful central nervous system depressants. Their presence painted a tragic portrait of emotional pain behind closed doors.

Pamela had allegedly mentioned suicide the year prior, though she had never made an attempt before. According to PEOPLE, she had been "depressed."

A Life in the Spotlight — And the Shadows

Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff was more than just a star. She was a mother to Taylor, 35, and Hayley, 32, and a fixture of '90s pop culture. Her marriage to David Hasselhoff was tabloid fodder — their union began on the set of "Knight Rider" in 1989 and ended in a public split in 2006.

But beyond the headlines, she was a woman navigating motherhood, fame, and heartbreak. A woman who shared New Year's wishes for her granddaughter just weeks before her death. "Watching her grow and seeing her smile light up my world is truly the greatest blessing," she wrote on Instagram, according to Us Weekly.

A Daughter's Devastating Tribute

Taylor Hasselhoff's Instagram post cut deep. The pain, she said, was "unbearable."

"I'd do anything in the world to hug you again, my forever angel," she wrote. "I promise to make you proud & celebrate you every day."

Hayley echoed the grief in her Instagram Stories saying, "My heart is shattered ... yet somehow feels whole knowing you will always be my best friend, my heart and my whole world."

David Hasselhoff's Response

David Hasselhoff, her ex-husband and father of her children, issued a somber statement to PEOPLE stating, "Our family is deeply saddened ... we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time."

Despite their divorce, Pamela had spoken fondly of David, once telling the Associated Press, "I've always loved him and always will, and have love and compassion for him," as reported by TODAY.

A Legacy of Love and Pain

Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff's story is not just one of sorrow. It's a haunting reminder of the hidden battles many face — even those whose lives seem dazzling from the outside.

Her final message to her daughter wasn't long. It didn't need to be; "I love you very much" was enough. It was everything.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or go to Lifeline.

References: Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff's Final Message to Her Daughter and Toxicology Results Revealed in Medical Examiner's Report | David Hasselhoff’s Ex-Wife’s Toxicology Reports and Final Message to Daughter Revealed After Death | David Hasselhoff Speaks Out Following News of His Ex-Wife Pamela Bach's Death | David Hasselhoff divorce is final