David Chokachi
The actor who rode the wave of '90s TV fame, embodying the heroic lifeguard and supernatural detective for a generation of viewers.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American actor·Birthday: January 16·Generation X
Biography
With his sun-bleached hair and athletic build, David Chokachi became a familiar face in the era of appointment television. A native of Massachusetts and a former competitive sailor, he landed squarely in the pop culture zeitgeist when he joined the juggernaut series 'Baywatch' in the late 1990s. As Cody Madison, he was part of the iconic lifeguard crew, a role that traded on his physical presence and all-American charm. He then pivoted smoothly into the fantasy genre, taking the lead in the cult favorite series 'Witchblade,' where he played a detective entangled with ancient mystical forces. While these two roles define his public image, his career has been a steady marathon of guest spots, indie films, and hallmark movies, showcasing a durability that outlasts the fleeting glare of primetime fame.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Cody Madison on the globally syndicated television series 'Baywatch' from 1997 to 1999.
- Starred as Detective Jake McCartey in the TNT supernatural drama series 'Witchblade'.
- Played a series regular role in the TV drama 'Beyond the Break' about competitive surfers.
Did You Know?
He was a competitive sailor in college and taught sailing in Nantucket.
He graduated from Bates College with a degree in biology.
He is a certified personal trainer.
“That role on Baywatch was a summer job that turned into a global phenomenon.”
