David Hasselhoff’s ex Pamela Bach was ‘plagued’ with extreme pain for decades before shock suicide at 62

David Hasselhoff’s ex-wife Pamela Bach suffered from extreme physical pain for decades before shock suicide, at age 62, according to one of her longtime friends. 

Terry Ahern, who served as the late actress’ representative for several years, told People that Bach was ‘plagued’ by the aftermath of her 2003 motorcycle crash, which left her hospitalized with a ‘broken neck and back.’ 

The freak accident occurred while she was seated behind her then-husband, David, who lost control and hit a sidewalk curb.

While he was thrown into a light pole after the wreck, Bach fell onto the shoulder of the road.

Ahern recalled how Bach spent ‘months in intensive care with crushed bones’ from the accident.

‘That plagued her — the arthritis from it,’ Ahern said. ‘Because that stuff catches up to you when you get older — injuries that are [from] earlier, arthritis sets in … Pam’s body was ravaged from arthritis caused by the accident. It continued to spread and wreak havoc.’ 

David Hasselhoff’s ex-wife Pamela Bach suffered from extreme pain for decades before shock suicide, at age 62, according to one of her longtime friends (pictured in 2024)

Ahern also described his late friend as ‘the kindest person you’d ever meet’ and ‘last person in the world’ he would think would die by suicide. 

‘It’s a shock,’ he admitted. ‘[She was] just [saying] how she was just over the moon being a grandmother — over the moon. She was so excited.’ 

Ahern went on to tell the outlet: ‘The sad thing is, when you love somebody and you know them and this happens, the first thing you think about is — they had all that built up inside and I couldn’t see it. I mean, that must be so horrible to be walking around with that.’ 

‘Pamela stood for kindness, sweetness, and love, plain and simple. She loved animals and people and cherished her family,’ he continued. ‘If you needed help, she was the first to respond. Her big smile and laugh will forever leave an impression on our hearts.’ 

In 2007, the mother-of-two told the Irish Examiner she ‘couldn’t walk for a year and was in a wheelchair’ following her motorcycle accident. 

‘They told me I’d never walk again. During that whole year, he took me out only twice – once to a Celine Dion concert and once to a basketball game. He let the housekeeper take care of me,’ she recalled back in 2007. 

In David Hasselhoff’s 2007 memoir, Making Waves: The Autobiography, wrote that he tried not to ‘pass out’ when he saw Bach ‘lying beside the road’ with ‘a bone sticking out of her wrist, several ribs had been cracked, and every bone beneath her left knee’ broken. 

‘While I couldn’t blame myself for the accident, it was painful for me to see the agony that Pamela was in,’ he wrote. ‘She received the best medical attention that money could buy but she still had to endure several operations and months of treatment.

Bach was ‘plagued’ by the aftermath of her 2003 motorcycle crash, which left her hospitalized with a ‘broken neck and back’ (seen in 1998 with Hasselhoff)

The freak accident occurred while she was seated behind her then-husband, David, who lost control and hit a sidewalk curb (pictured in 2014 back on a motorcycle with a friend)

‘I was there for her physically and emotionally at every appointment, every operation. When we got her home, she was frustrated with the slowness of her recovery. I was frustrated with not working, and the situation had a damaging effect on our marriage. Instead of bringing us closer together, it drove us apart.’

Three years later, he filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences – and a nasty battle ensued. 

The split was contentious; she accused him of domestic abuse and they had public arguments about spousal support continuing until 2017. 

They shared two daughters, 32-year-old Hayley and 34-year-old Taylor. Bach-Hasselhoff is also survived by a granddaughter named London. 

‘That plagued her — the arthritis from it,’ Ahern said. ‘Because that stuff catches up to you when you get older — injuries that are [from] earlier, arthritis sets in … Pam’s body was ravaged from arthritis caused by the accident. It continued to spread and wreak havoc’

Bach and Hasselhoff welcomed daughters Hayley, 32, and Taylor, 34, during their 17-year marriage, which ended in 2006

A representative for Hasselhoff told DailyMail.com, ‘Our family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Pamela Hasselhoff.

‘We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support during this difficult time but we kindly request privacy as we grieve and navigate through this challenging time.’

TMZ was the first to report her death.

Bach’s daughter Hayley shared an image of Bach-Hasselhoff on her Instagram following her death.

Bach-Hasselhoff’s body was discovered at her Los Angeles home on March 5 after her family became concerned when they had not heard from her for days.