Who is Erika Eleniak?
Erika Eleniak is an American-Canadian actress, a former model and Playboy Playmate, best known for her role in the television series âBaywatch,â in which she played Shauni McClain. Eleniak has also appeared in such films as âE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,â âThe Blob,â âUnder Siege,â and âThe Beverly Hillbillies.â
Erika Eleniak Age, Early Life, and Bio
Erika Maya Eleniak was born on 29 September 1969, in Los Angeles, California USA, to Dale Alan Eleniak and Iris Maya (Neggo) Arnold.
Erika has four sisters and a brother, and is the eldest daughter in the family. Her uncle, Eddie Carroll, aka Edward Eleniak, is an actor and comedian. When she was a young girl, Erika was diagnosed with an eating disorder, which caused her to lose weight, a problem from which she fortunately recovered. She went to Robert Fulton Junior High in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, and completed her education from Van Nuys High School. We donât have any information on her education after high school, so we can conclude that she didnât attend college.
Erika Eleniak Career
Erika Eleniakâs career actually began in 1979 when she starred in numerous productions for television, film, commercials, and theater. Her first appearance in a feature film was in Steven Spielbergâs Oscar-winning family/sci-fi âET the Extra-Terrestrialâ in 1982 – credited as âPretty Girlâ, Eleniak appeared in the scene when she was kissed by Elliott (Henry Thomas) in the classroom. The film won four Academy Awards and numerous other prestigious honors, and proved to be a commercial success with nearly $800 million box office receipts worldwide.
Later in the â80s, Erika played small parts in TV series such as âSilver Spoonsâ, âThe New Leave It to Beaverâ, and âBoys Will Be Boysâ, before appearing alongside William Shatner and Susan Blakely in the TV film âBroken Angelâ (1988), and that same year played Vicki De Soto in Chuck Russellâs horror âThe Blobâ, starring Shawnee Smith, Kevin Dillon and Donovan Leitch Jr.
Playboy and Baywatch
In July 1989, Erika Eleniak appeared in the issue of Playboy covering the nautical theme, which helped her to secure the role of Shauni McClain in the television series âBaywatchâ, playing that role for three seasons and 47 episodes between 1989 and 1992, but leaving the series as it moved in another direction.
The series was quite popular in the early â90s, not only in the US but also around the globe, and gained Erika immense popularity, which helped her to get some important on-screen parts in the future. In 1992, Eleniak appeared in the Andrew Davisâ Oscar-nominated action film âUnder Siegeâ, starring Steven Seagal, Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones, while a year later she starred in the comedy âThe Beverly Hillbilliesâ. Eleniak was nominated multiple times for Bravo Otto Herman Award for Best Female TV Star between 1990 and 1992.
The â90s were fruitful for Eleniak too, as she continued in such films as Dennis Hopperâs âChasersâ (1994), in which she starred alongside Tom Berenger and William McNamara, and again teamed up with McNamara a year later in Lucas Plattâs âGirl in the Cadillacâ, while she also starred in Gilbert Adlerâs comedy/horror âBordello of Bloodâ (1996). In 1998, Eleniak portrayed the role of Officer Christine Bannon in three episodes of the Primetime Emmy Award-winning series âBrooklyn Southâ, and had leading parts in âOne Hot Summer Nightâ and âThe Pandora Project,â with Daniel Baldwin and Richard Tyson. Eleniak ended the decade with two films alongside Ice-T: âStealth Fighterâ (1999) and âFinal Voyageâ (1999).
The 2000s and Latest Work, Where is She Today?
Erika starred in numerous films in the early 2000s, including Eugene Jareckiâs sports drama âThe Opponentâ (2000) in which she played Patty, a victim of domestic abuse who becomes a boxer. The former Playboy playmate also starred in âSnowboundâ (2001), âSecond to Dieâ, âChristmas Rushâ and âHe Sees You When Youâre Sleepingâ all in 2002. Erika continued on with main roles in âBetrayalâ with Adam Baldwin and âThe Librariansâ – both in 2003 – alongside William Forsythe, and âFatal Lessons: The Good Teacherâ (2004). Eleniak finished the previous decade with âDracula 3000â (2004), âCaught in the Headlightsâ (2005), and âAbsolute Zeroâ (2006).
She wasnât very busy in the late 2000s and the following decade, as she decided to take a break from acting. However, she did appear in popular TV series such as the Primetime Emmy Award-winning âCSI: Miamiâ (2010), and Golden Globe Award-winning âDesperate Housewivesâ (2010). As of 2020, Eleniak is working on âMarilyn Monroe Back?â and âTo Avengeâ, and will star in both films.
Erika Eleniak Net Worth, Height, Weight, and Body Measurements
According to sources, Erika Eleniakâs net worth is estimated at over $4 million, as of early 2020.
In addition to her successful career as an actress, Eleniak also works as an acting teacher, while she is also operating as Director to children in recovery for drug abuse and behavioral problems.
Erika Eleniak stands at a height of 5ft 6ins (1.68m) and weighs approximately 114lbs (52kgs). She did have problems with her weight earlier in her life, but right now she is in top condition, and her body type is curvaceous. The color of her hair is blonde, and she has a pair of beautiful green colored eyes.
Happiest Scintillating Saturday đWhat wonderful things are you doing for YOU today? Not just those we love but also, self- love! Honor thyself today, my friends. It makes you a better YOU for those you love#realerikaeleniakblog #loveyourself #reinventyourself #createeveryday pic.twitter.com/x7JeAKh7lW
— Erika Eleniak (@erikaeleniak) May 23, 2020
Erika Eleniak Personal Life
Eleniak was became engaged to Billy Warlock, her âBaywatchâ co-star, but the couple broke-up, and she married Philip Goglia on 22 May 1998, however, after just six months, that marriage ended in divorce. Erika then began dating Roch Daigle, and even bought a house in Calgary, Alberta, where Daigle lived. They married in 2001, and Eleniak became pregnant in 2005, but six and a half weeks into her term, her pregnancy became complicated and risky, and ended in miscarriage. Erika and Roch werenât discouraged, and in January 2006 Eleniak gave birth to their daughter Indyanna.