David Hasselhoff is devastated by the death of ex-wife Pamela Bach, but he’s been comforting the two daughters they shared while staying as focused as possible and sticking tight to his current spouse Hayley Roberts for comfort of his own, a source exclusively tells Closer.
After discovering his late wife had died by suicide, the insider notes the Baywatch star immediately returned to California to be with his family. “He’s back in Calabasas. He does a lot of travel to Europe, but he’s staying put in L.A. since this happened to support everybody.”
Pamela, who was 62 when she passed, leaves behind two children, Taylor Ann and Hayley, whom she had with David, 72, during their 17-year marriage before their divorce in 2006. The couple had a tumultuous relationship, with the former actress telling Larry King her husband’s alcoholism caused the implosion of their marriage.
“I have tried thinking if I just pour out the bottles, if I just be by his side, if I just babysit him, give him more love, do more for him or make him see himself, it will get there,” Pamela said in 2007, right after their split. “But the disease of alcoholism is cunning. It’s a baffling disease. And it’s very chaotic. It’s a family disease.” She also accused her ex husband of domestic violence in an interview with Daily Mail, allegations which David denied.
Though their romance was rough, the two did reconcile somewhat near the end as the actor committed to staying sober and seeing his kids per their custody agreement. As time went on, the source notes their relationship became more about coparenting successfully than mutual animosity and the shock of Pamela’s death is still racking David.
“Everyone is still in deep shock, still trying to process the enormity of this tragedy. It’s going to take them a long time to recover, they are all devastated,” the insider adds. “David is remaining very stoic; he’s hurting but he wants to make sure that practical matters are handled properly, there’s so much to do.”
A second source previously told In Touch the Knight Rider star was staying strong for his two daughters. “David has really stepped up to comfort and to make sure everything is getting handled,” that insider said. “Having to see his girls so distraught is the toughest thing in the world, and there’s nothing he can do.”
There may be nothing to be done but comfort one another, the first source adds. “They are all coming together as a family and helping Taylor with her baby girl. The girls are very, very close to their dad so he’s able to give them a lot of comfort but obviously nothing is going to take the pain away.”
“They’re grieving together. David is a rock, but he’s deeply saddened too. He’s not totally alone, there were a lot of people that loved Pamela, she was a beautiful person inside and out, so the outpouring of condolences and offers of support has been huge.”