Knight Rider Cast Then and Now

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Oh, The Hoff. He skyrocketed to fame after moving to primetime television as in Knight Rider. Michael Knight, the unstoppable lone crimefighter, and his intrepid sidekick, Kitt the car with artificial intelligence, became unforgettable in the cult classic TV show. But what happened to Hasselhoff and his costars?

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David Hasselhoff aka “Michael Knight”

Hasselhoff was at the beginning of his prime when he played Michael Knight at the show’s start in 1982. Soon after, he starred in Baywatch as the hunky Mitch Buchannon, eventually becoming the hit show’s producer.

Now, 40 years later, The Hoff is 70 years old. He’s currently married to 42-yr-old bombshell Hayley Roberts Hasselhoff, a Welsh model.

Hasselhoff recently told People that “life is just beginning” for him at age 70 and that he feels “reborn.” He focuses on enjoying life now, which includes realizing his limitations but working hard to stay healthy. He also tries to be incognito when he goes out in public now, so good luck trying to spot him!

You can keep up with The Hoff’s blog by clicking here.

Edward Mulhare aka “Devon Miles”

Edward Mulhare played Devon Miles, the head of the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG). Born April 8, 1923, in Ireland, Mulhare was 59 in 1982. Sadly, he passed away in 1997.

According to Pegge Forrest, Mulhare’s friend and publicist, his cause of death was lung cancer. He was 74 years old and at his home in Van Nuys, California at the time.

Mulhare made his acting debut while on Broadway, starring as a sub for Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. Prior to his passing, he made a guest appearance alongside Hasselhoff in Baywatch Nights.

Mulhare was survived by his two brothers, John and Thomas.

Richard Basehart aka “Narrator” for opening titles

Richard Basehart played the narrator for Knight Rider’s opening titles. Born Aug 31, 1914, he was age 68 in 1992. Basehart sadly passed away in 1984, prior to the show’s finale.

According to the New York Times, the actor suffered a series of strokes. He was living in Los Angeles at the time of his death on September 17. He was 70 years old.

An official website for Basehart states that he was married three times. He had one son, John Anthony Carmine Michael, with his second wife, Italian actress Valentina Cortese. He had two daughters, Jenna (born in 1964) and Gayla (born in 1969) with his third wife, Diana Lotery. His final marriage lasted through his death in 1984.

Patricia McPherson aka “Bonnie Barstow”

Patricia McPherson played engineer Bonnie Barstow in Knight Rider. She was 28 years old in 1982 at the show’s inception. Born November 27, 1954, McPherson is currently 67 years old.

According to Do You Remember, McPherson severed ties with the TV series during season 2. Her character was replaced by April Curtis. McPherson went on to pursue her education until fans put up such a protest that she returned to Knight Rider until its finale.

McPherson eventually would become an environmental activist. She was a primary advocate for the preservation of Southern California’s Ballona Wetlands. She married James Garrett and currently resides in California.

Rebecca Holden aka “April Curtis”

Rebecca Holden played April Curtis, KITT’s main mechanic for season 2. Born June 12, 1958, she was 24 years old in 1982.

Holden went on to star in General Hospital and costarred in a variety of TV shows. She is also a classically trained vocalist and pianist and has made music for a variety of artists and charitable events. Notably, she received the Edwin P. Hubble Humanitarian Award and does work for organizations like Feed the Children and Habitat for Humanity. She is a co-founder of WeCare and currently holds the role of ambassador and spokesperson for the organization.

Peter Parros aka “’RC3’ Reginald Cornelius III”

Peter Parros played the playful Reginald Cornelius III, aka “RC3” in Knight Rider. He joined late in the series, in 1985. Born November 11, 1960, he is 61 today.

Today, Parros maintains his acting career. He was most recently in the film The Rim of the World (2019) as Dariush’s dad, and a 2019 episode of Lethal Weapon as an FBI agent.

Shawn Ora Engemann aka “Lonnie”

Shawn Ora Engemann played Lonnie in episode 101 of Knight Rider, “Knight of the Phoenix.” She was 22 years old in 1982, making her 62 today. Her birthday is November 5, 1959.

Engemann went on to be a host for Hollywood Insider from 1990-1996. She married and divorced Larry King three times, although the third divorce proceedings were ongoing when King passed away in 2021. They had two sons together, Chance (born 1999) and Cannon (born 2000). She also has a son, Daniel (born 1981) with her first husband, Daniel Southwick.

Catherine Hickland aka “Stephanie ‘Stevie’ March”

Catherine Hickland played Stephanie “Stevie” March in Knight Rider. She was 26 years old in 1982, making her 66 today. She was born on February 11, 1956.

Hickland married David Hasselhoff in 1984 but they divorced in 1989. Ironically, Hickland then went on to marry a Michael Knight — not the Knight Rider character, but the actual person, who starred in All My Children. That marriage lasted until 2006. Hickland is currently married to producer Todd Fisher, and the two reside in California and Las Vegas.

Pamela Susan Shoop aka “Maggie”

Pamela Susan Shoop played Maggie in Knight Rider. She was 34 years old in 1982. Born June 7, 1948, Shoop is 73 years old today.

Shoop went on to have an extensive acting career, starring in films until 2013 and TV shows until 1996.

She married Terrance Sweeney in 1987. The couple has stayed together ever since and wrote a book together, “What God Hath Joined: the Real Life Love Story that Shook the Catholic Church.” She currently does charitable work.

Ann Turkel aka “Adrianne Margeaux”

Ann Turkel played antagonist Adrianne Margeaux. She was 36 years old in 1982. Born July 16, 1946, she is currently 76 years old.

Turkel continued acting and played an extensive list of roles in both film and television until 2006. She married actor and singer Richard Harris in 1974 but they divorced in 1982.

Turkel currently resides in Beverly Hills with her two dogs, Samantha and Olivia.

KITT

Of course, we can’t leave out KITT. KITT was a brilliant Black 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am and Michael Knight’s chariot.

There were many iterations of KITT — 20, actually —and most were destroyed after filming. However, five still exist today. Two of the original KITTs were tracked down and currently belong to two men, Joe Huth and AJ Palmgren. Joe and AJ own Knight Rider Historians, which is dedicated to the archaeological preservation of Knight Rider.

One of the two KITT cars that the duo owns has a particularly interesting story. It was sold to a Saudi prince in the 1990s and then stolen. Recovered, it was then left in an auction parking lot in San Diego for 7 years while the Saudi prince tried to figure out the title. However, the car was eventually sold and restored and now sits in the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

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