“I’D RATHER BACKPACK”
(BIG! – September 25 1991)
As lifeguard Eddie Kramer in Baywatch, Billy Warlock is a typical Californian beach bum, spending all his spare time lazing around on sunny shores. But as Billy told BIG!, in real life he’s much more likely to put on his hiking boots and head for the hills!
When BIG! Set off to visit Billy at the cosy Californian home he shares with co-star Erika Elenaik (who plays Shauni) we packed our trunks, sunglasses and surfboard. After all, when he’s not in front of the cameras, a Baywatch beach boy like Billy must spend all his time on the shore building up that suntan! Or so we thought!
“Actually, I’m more into backpacking,” he reveals. “We’ve got the highest mountains in the Western Hemisphere of California and we usually hike up and pitch camp at around 4,000 feet. It’s a long miserable walk up there and takes about a day, but when you get there it’s worth it.”
But what about that great Baywatch suntan? Surely you don’t get that in the Californian mountains?!
“No,” he laughs, “it’s fake! We have to wear dark body coloured body make-up, which is put on like paint, and because it has to be waterproof, it’s an absolute nightmare to get off! As soon as I’ve finished filming for the day I get into a really good hot shower and have to spend literally hours scrubbing it all off!”
Oh dear, it looks like BIG!’s surfing trip is off! Are you a good surfer, Billy?
“Well, I’m okay,” he replies. “But I’m definitely not one of those blonde blue-eyed Californian beach bums and I’d never done it before I joined Baywatch! About three or four episodes into the series, a couple of real lifeguards who used to work behind the screens on Baywatch tried to get me and Parker Stevenson (who plays Craig) and a few of the others onto surfboards, just for the neck of it! So we went out and bought surfboards and went for it. It was a real blast! It’s real peaceful when you’re just sitting out there and talking to your buddies. Then it’s, ‘Hey, here comes a wave – let’s go!”
But surely even away from the Baywatch beaches you can’t go anywhere without being recognised, especially with Erika in tow!
“I have a good way of keeping a low profile,” he smiles. “If you put out a ‘well, here I am’ sort of vibe then people are going to notice you whoever you are. If you sort of keep it all inside and just keep moving they don’t. I’m a small guy anyway, which makes it easier.”
Well, as you mentioned it Billy, we had noticed that you always seem to play teenagers (as he did in the spooky movie Society a couple of years ago), but aren’t you actually 29?
“Yes,” he laughs. “I’m now starting to play people in their 20’s, thank goodness! I was beginning to get sick of always being a teenager. I’ve always looked young though. I used to desperately want to look older but I suppose I have to admit that looking the way I do has done wonders for my career. And I guess if I still look younger when I’m 40 or 50 I’ll be well pleased!”
