Donna D’Errico recalls being homeless before she starred in Baywatch

Donna D’Errico she looks back on the more challenging moments of her life before she found success Baywatch.

“I was homeless for a while. I was homeless for about three months, at the beginning before that Baywatch,D’Errico, 56, said exclusively My Weekly while visiting the Los Angeles Mission’s annual Christmas celebration. During the event, D’Errico gave back by providing food to others experiencing homelessness in Skid Row, an LA neighborhood that contains one of the largest homeless populations in the country.

“I understand and sympathize with their plight,” the actress continued, adding that “it’s important” that people experiencing homelessness “know that they are also a solid part of the community.”

“It’s not just outcasts and things that everyone looks down on. Many people feel that way, but they shouldn’t feel that way because we are all human. Some of us have homes to live in and some of us unfortunately don’t,” D’Errico said. “So they’re classified as homeless.” But I don’t like doing it. We are all human and some are better off than others, and I want them to know that they too are an important and valuable part of society.”

Related: Celebrities with shocking pasts

It hasn’t always been an easy road for some celebrities. While these stars have had successful careers in the entertainment industry, their pasts may come as a surprise to some of their fans. From troubled families to arrests and addictions, celebrities including Charlize Theron, Robert Downey Jr. and Jay-Z overcome their darkest (…)

As D’Errico reflected on his past, she noted that it was important to her give back to the community and the homeless in LA because, like her, she knows people who have been affected by homelessness.

“Homelessness has touched me in several different ways,” she said. “I had family that was homeless for a while, friends that were homeless for a while.

D’Errico also accepted Instagram to share her support for the LA Mission cause while thanking the organization for the opportunity to give back. “Thank you @thelamission for allowing me to volunteer over the last few years,” she wrote in a post shared in December 2024. “Today we served hundreds of Christmas meals to lots of beautiful people who are less fortunate.”

Related: Original cast of ‘Baywatch’: Where Are They Now?

Red swimsuits, tanned bodies and slow motion make Baywatch unforgettable – even decades after it originally aired. Baywatch followed lifeguards on a California (and later Hawaii) beach as they saved innocent people from drowning, sharks and the occasional serial killer. The drama first premiered on NBC in 1989 and ran (…)

Everything changed for D’Errico when she booked the role of Donna Marco – the blonde bombshell lifeguard on the classic series. Baywatch. Since then, she has focused primarily on her work as an animal rights advocate.

D’Errico was founded with her ex-husband, Nikki Six from Mötley Crüe, by her Baywatch playmate Pamela Andersonwho was previously married to a member of Mötley Crüe Tommy Lee. D’Errico and Sixx married in 1996 and officially divorced in 2007.

When asked if D’Errico saw Anderson’s latest film, The Last Showgirl which earned Anderson high critical praise for her performance, D’Errico said no, but added, “Whatever happens, I’m sure it’s fantastic.”

With a message from Mariel Turner