The ’80s ‘Knight Rider’ Cast Then and Now—See David Hasselhoff and Costars Today

Fighting for justice and keeping the world safe can be a difficult task, but lone crime fighter Michael Knight has no problem with the help of his artificially intelligent supercar, KITT. Before AI was everywhere, Michael Knight was working with KITT in Knight Rider, the 1980s cult classic series that followed their adventures.

Knight Rider was an immensely popular action series that ran for four seasons from 1982 until 1986. With David Hasselhoff leading the cast and the inclusion of a talking car, Knight Rider took the world by storm, gaining a massive fan base. Now, it seems KITT is going for another spin, as a Knight Rider reboot movie is currently in the works. The creators of Cobra Kai are trying their hand at a new rendition of the 1980s hit and with the success of the Karate Kid sequel series, we’re expecting a good turnout. 

Check in with the stars of the series and find out what they’ve been up to over the years!

David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight

Born: July 17, 1952, Baltimore, Maryland

Personal life: Previously married to Catherine Hickland (1984-1989) and Pamela Bach (1989-2006), married to Hayley Roberts since 2018; father of daughters Hayley and Taylor

Best known for: The Young and the Restless (1976-2010), Baywatch (1989-2000), Baywatch Nights (1995-1997), Piranha 3D (2012) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Thoughts on Knight Rider: “The memory I have of Knight Rider is that it was simply the best job ever,” Hasselhoff shared. “They said ‘action’ and I got to drive with 10 cars around me, driven by stuntmen paid not to hit me!” 

Edward Mulhare as Devon Miles

Born: April 8, 1923, Cork, Ireland

Died: May 24, 1997

Personal life: No spouse and no children

Best known for: Von Ryan’s Express (1965), The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968-1970) and Knight Rider 2000 (1991)

Thoughts on Knight Rider: “I love the people I work with, but I can’t say I love the bits of dialogue they give me from time to time,” Mulhare shared about the experience. “I was very pleased with the pilot [but] the character developed an extraordinary pomposity. I was forever looking down my nose as if I were smelling something rancid—which I found excessively boring.”

Richard Basehart as the Narrator

Born: August 31, 1914, Zanesville, Ohio

Died: September 17, 1984

Personal life: Previously married to Stephanie Klein (1940-1950), Valentina Cortese (1951–1960) and previously married to Diana Basehart (1962–1984)

Best known for: Fourteen Hours (1951), La Strada (1954), Moby Dick (1956) and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964-1968)

Patricia McPherson as Bonnie Barstow

Born: November 27, 1954, Oak Harbor, Washington

Personal life: Married to James Garrett

Best known for: Prime Risk (1985), MacGyver (1986), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1988)

Thoughts on Knight Rider: “I tried not to take it personally [initially being written out of the show]. I finally got a call from a producer who apologized for what happened. He asked if I’d consider signing on for the show’s third season. I said yes almost immediately.”

Rebecca Holden as April Curtis

Born: June 12, 1958, Dallas, Texas

Best known for: Magnum, P.I. (1981), The Sisterhood (1988), Knight Chills (2001), Canaan Land  (2020) and Was Once a Hero (2024)

Thoughts on Knight Rider: “The producers knew my work, but they wanted to see me and David together to find out if we had any chemistry,” Holden explained. “David and I did a scene, and that was it. I just remember laughing a lot…We really had a great time. Before I even got home, my agent called me and said the producers loved it and really wanted me for the role. It was magic. Some things are meant to be.”