A championship athlete and an accomplished actor, David Chokachi is a natural for the role of Cody Madison, a handsome world-class Olympic swimming hopeful who supplements his training while working as a "Baywatch" lifeguard. Like his character, Chokachi began his athletic career at an early age with the strong support of his family. A gifted amateur athlete, he excelled in baseball, football, wrestling and sailing by the age of ten.Born and raised in New England, Chokachi comes from a family of sports enthusiasts and avid campers. His younger brother is an extreme skier and his mother is a talented horseman. Chokachi spent his summers on the water, sailing and windsurfing. In 1984, he ranked 12th in the Jr. National Windsurfing Championships.
Chokachi also developed a strong interest in action drama, thanks in part to his parents home video camera. "When we weren't playing sports, my brother and I were making movies. We were big `Miami Vice' fans, and we were always trying to recreate the big action sequences -- jumping over fences, falling down stairs, and running around the house."
A varsity letterman in football, lacrosse, and wrestling, Chokachi attended Bates College in Maine on an athletic scholarship where he entered the Semester at Sea collegeprogram during his junior year. Living aboard a sailing vessel, the students traveled to 12 countries, including Spain, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Russian Republic, Egypt, India, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Taiwan and Japan.
A political science major, his experience abroad heightened his interest in foreign and domestic affairs. Upon receiving his bachelor's degree in political science, Chokachi became a legislative aide for Massachusetts congressman Gerry Studds.
Chokachi spent a year walking the halls of Congress, but his initial interest in acting led him to set aside plans for law school and devote himself full-time to modeling and acting. He signed with an agent in Boston and began studying acting seriously. After honing his craft, Chokachi moved to Los Angeles where he quickly became a busy commercial actor for several national accounts.
In a relatively short amount of time, the 5'11", blue-eyed actor has established an extensive resume in motion pictures, television and theatrical productions. Most recently, Chokachi was seen in the MGM motion picture "Blown Away," starring Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones, and the Warner Bros. production "With Honors." His numerous theatrical roles include "Death of a Salesman," "Golden Boy," "Picnic," and "True West."
Deeply committed to environmental preservation, Chokachi recently returned from a two week picture safari in Africa where he studied endangered species.
When not on the set or traveling, Chokachi maintains a rigorous daily training regiment involving weight lifting, swimming, running, and mountain biking. He currently resides in Brentwood.
