Leonardo DiCaprio was originally cast as Mitch’s son on Baywatch

By: H&I Staff     Posted: May 12, 2021, 4:00PM    Tags: featured

Many popular actors from the ’90s kicked off their careers through Baywatch. From background characters to the heroic lifeguards, the shores of Baywatch helped many actors get recognition on a global scale through the popular series.

One such actor who was just beginning his career at an early age was Leonardo DiCaprio. Just 15-years-old at the time, the future Oscar winner was set to play the role of Mitch Buchannon’s son, Hobie Buchannon.

With DiCaprio ready to be officially cast for the part, producer and star of the series, David Hasselhoff, decided the role of Hobie needed to be younger.

“David thought he was too old to play his son. David thought it would make him look older. He had a lot of concerns of that type,” said Baywatch producer Douglas Schwartz to The Hollywood Reporter on casting DiCaprio.

9-year-old Jeremy Jackson was ultimately chosen over DiCaprio for the part of Hobie Buchannon. Afterward, DiCaprio would shift his focus from TV to movies where he was cast in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 1993.