Yasmine Bleeth was born on June 14, 1968, in New York City. Her father, Philip Bleeth, was of Russian-Jewish and German-Jewish descent, while her mother, Carina Bleeth, was a model of French-Algerian descent.
Early Career:
Bleeth began her career extremely early, appearing in a Johnson & Johnson’s No More Tears baby shampoo commercial when she was just 10 months old in 1969. At age 6, she appeared on “Candid Camera” and in a Max Factor cosmetic advertising campaign.Her early exposure caught the attention of fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo, who included her and her mother in his book “Scavullo Women”.
First Film Role:
At age 12, Bleeth landed her first film role in the 1980 feature “Hey Babe!”, starring opposite Buddy Hackett.
Television Breakthrough:
Bleeth’s big break in television came when she was cast as Ryan Fenelli on the daytime soap opera “Ryan’s Hope”. She played this role from 1985 to 1989, starting at age 1614.Personal Tragedy:
Shortly after “Ryan’s Hope” ended, Bleeth faced a personal tragedy when her mother was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer. Carina Bleeth passed away within a year at the age of 47. This loss deeply affected Yasmine, who took a break from acting for several months to cope with her grief.
Career Resurgence:
After her hiatus, Bleeth returned to acting with a role on another soap opera, “One Life to Live”, where she played LeeAnn Demerest from 1991 to 1993.
Baywatch and Stardom:
Bleeth’s most famous role came in 1993 when she was cast as Caroline Holden on the hit series “Baywatch”. This role catapulted her to international stardom and sex symbol status. She appeared on the show from 1993 to 1997. During her time on “Baywatch”, Bleeth’s popularity soared. She was named one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 1995. She was also consistently ranked in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World from 1996 to 2001.
Post-Baywatch Career:
After leaving “Baywatch”, Bleeth continued to act in television movies and series. Some notable roles include:
- Inspector Caitlin Cross on “Nash Bridges” (1998-2000)
- Appearances in TV movies like “Crowned and Dangerous” (1997) and “The Lake” (1998)
- A role in the film “BASEketball” (1998)
Personal Life:
Bleeth has been open about her struggles with cocaine addiction. She entered rehab in 2000 and has spoken publicly about her recovery journey.She married Paul Cerrito in August 2002, and they remain together.
Later Career:
Bleeth’s acting career slowed down in the early 2000s. Her last credited acting role was in the 2003 TV movie “Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding”, where she reprised her role as Caroline Holden5.Legacy:
Yasmine Bleeth is remembered as one of the iconic “Baywatch babes” of the 1990s. Despite personal struggles, she made a significant impact on popular culture during her peak years in television.
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