View source for Gregory J. Bonann

{{Short description|American television director, television producer and screenwriter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Gregory J. Bonann
| image         = Greg bonann 9180 sm.jpg
| alt           = Gregory J. Bonann
| caption       = Bonann in 2009
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1952|06|28}}
| birth_place   = [[Santa Monica]], [[California]], U.S.
| occupation    = [[Lifeguard]], television producer, director, writer, [[Showrunner]]
| known_for     = ''[[Baywatch]]'', ''[[She Spies]]'', ''[[SAF3]]''
}}
'''Gregory J. Bonann''' (born June 28, 1952) is an American [[lifeguard]], television producer, director, writer, and [[showrunner]]. He is best known for co-creating the internationally syndicated television series, ''[[Baywatch]]'', which ran for eleven seasons ([[List of Baywatch episodes|242 episodes]]), and was listed in the 2001 [[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book of World Records]] as the most widely viewed TV series in the world.<ref name="guinness">{{cite book |editor2-last=Young |editor2-first=Mark C. |editor1-last=Footman |editor1-first=Tim |date=2001 |title=Guinness World Records 2001 |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=978-0553583755}}</ref> His later work includes the syndicated [[Action (fiction)|action]] drama, [[SAF3]], and A Chance For Children, a [[Foundation (nonprofit)|charitable foundation]] that benefits homeless and at-risk youth.
== Early life ==
Bonann was born in [[Santa Monica, California]],<ref name="rescued">{{cite book |last2=Bonann |first2=Gregory J. |last1=Lewis |first1=Brad Alan |date=1999 |title=Baywatch: Rescued From Prime Time |location=USA |publisher=New Millenium Press |isbn=978-1422363331}}</ref> to [[Catholic]] parents Regina (née Caput), a [[bank teller]], and Louis John Bonann, a physician and veteran of [[World War II]].<ref name="rescued" /> He was raised in [[West Los Angeles]] with two sisters, Kathleen and Deborah.<ref name="rescued" />
As a child, Bonann suffered from severe [[asthma]] and [[allergies]].<ref name="twinCircle">{{cite news |last=Kleinhans Reichman |first=Theda |date=February 25, 1979 |title=Greg Bonann: Lifeguard with a Mission |newspaper=Catholic Twin Circle |location=Los Angeles |pages=3–5 |isbn=9780615604763 |access-date=May 21, 2015 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0_z4a_ZP1a4C&pg=PA3838 }}</ref> He was born with [[Club foot|club feet]] and severe visual impairment, and was close to death twice before the age of two.<ref name="rescued" />
Bonann attended [[Palisades Charter High School|Palisades High School]] from 1967 through 1970,<ref name="swimmers" /> and since his allergies ruled out any outdoor sports, he joined the swim team.<ref name="boffo">{{cite book |last=Bart |first=Peter |date=June 6, 2007 |pages=79–90 |title=Boffo!: How I Learned to Love the Blockbuster and Fear the Bomb |location=USA |publisher=Miramax/Hyperion |isbn=978-1401360283}}</ref> Contact lenses corrected his vision, but swimming with them proved difficult, so Bonann needed special visual aids to see the walls of the pool.  He ultimately specialized in the backstroke so that he could use the overhead flags to better gauge his turns. He was voted most-improved swimmer in his second year, but he didn't win a competitive race until two years later.<ref name="swimmers">{{cite book |last=Whitten |first=Phil |editor-first=Larry |editor-last=Thompson |date=September 17, 2007 |pages=109–115 |title=Swimmers: Courage and Triumph |location=USA |publisher=ISHOF Press |isbn=978-1887359023}}</ref> In his senior year, Bonann was voted most-valuable.<ref name="rescued" />
In the fall of 1970, Bonann attended [[Washington State University]] as a freshman on a partial athletic scholarship.<ref name="rescued" /> He was recruited by the [[U.S. Olympic Committee]] and trained to compete in the [[modern pentathlon]]. Although he didn't qualify for the event, Bonann travelled to [[Munich, Germany|Munich]] for the [[1972 Summer Olympics]] as a non-competitor.
When WSU dropped the men's swimming program, Bonann transferred to [[California State University, Long Beach|California State University]] in [[Long Beach, California]].  He continued to swim with the CSULB team, alongside Olympic athletes [[Gunnar Larsson (swimmer)|Gunnar Larsson]], Klaus Barth, and [[Hans-Joachim Fassnacht|Hans Fassnacht]],<ref name="swimmers" /> until 1974 when he graduated with a BA degree in journalism.<ref name="swimmers" /><ref name="boffo" />
== Lifeguarding ==
In 1970,<ref name="swimmers" /> Bonann began his lifeguard career as an LA City Ocean Lifeguard. After the completion of rookie academy, he was given his choice of post, and served in lifeguard tower #18 on [[Will Rogers State Beach]],<ref name="boffo" /> a short distance from his family home in [[West Los Angeles]].
Bonann became a [[Los Angeles County Lifeguards|Los Angeles County Lifeguard]] in 1975, when the city and county services merged.<ref name="imagesOfAmerica">{{cite book |last=Verge |first=Arthur C. |date=2005 |lccn=2005922916 |title=Images of America: Los Angeles County Lifeguards |location=USA |publisher=Arcadia |isbn=978-0738529899}}</ref> He served on the beaches of the Central Section, including [[Topanga State Park|Topanga]], [[Will Rogers State Beach|Will Rogers]], [[Santa Monica Beach|Santa Monica]], [[Venice, Los Angeles#Venice_Beach|Venice]], and [[Playa Del Rey|Del Rey]].<ref name="rescued" />
[[File:Lifeguard Gregory J. Bonann.jpg|thumb|Lifeguard Gregory J. Bonann working on Will Rogers State Beach in 1989.  Photo by Kim Carlsberg.]]
In the summer of 1977, while working [[Will Rogers State Beach]], Bonann performed a routine rescue of some children who were caught in a riptide.  The children's father was Stu Erwin, Jr.,<ref name="swimmers" /> who worked for [[MTM Enterprises]], a television production company run by [[Grant Tinker]], the future chairman and CEO of [[NBC]].  Bonann would go on to pitch his idea for a television show about lifeguards to Erwin and Tinker, who eventually helped him sell the show to NBC.<ref name="boffo" />
In 1989, while [[Location Scouting|scouting locations]] in [[Venice, Los Angeles|Venice Beach, California]] with the ''[[Baywatch]]'' producers and writing staff, Bonann was approached by a teenager who had lost his friend in the water.  Bonann swam out and made three surface dives before finding the boy, who had been submerged for several minutes, and revived him using [[Artificial respiration|mouth-to-mouth resuscitation]] while [[treading water]]. The boy was taken to UCLA Medical Center where he recovered.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |last=Puig |first=Claudia |date=June 8, 1989 |title=TV & Video: Morning Report |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles |access-date=May 21, 2015 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/280940137  }}</ref>  Bonann received the [[List of medals for bravery|Medal of Valor]] from Los Angeles County for performing that rescue.<ref name="rescued" /><ref name="swimmers" /><ref name="isf">[http://www.surffestival.org/#!medal-of-valor/cm5e/ International Surf Festival Medal of Valor Honorees List]</ref>
In 1994 the [[Los Angeles County Lifeguards|L.A. County Lifeguard]] services merged into the [[Los Angeles County Fire Department]], making Bonann an L.A. County Firefighter within its Lifeguard Division.
In 2001, Bonann became an Ocean Lifeguard for [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|Honolulu City and County]], [[Oahu]], Hawaii.
Bonann transferred to the Northern Section of [[List of beaches in California#Los Angeles County|Los Angeles County]] in 2013, including [[Malibu Lagoon State Beach|Malibu]] and [[Zuma Beach|Zuma]] beaches,.<ref name="imagesOfAmerica" /> He has been a Junior Lifeguard Instructor at Zuma Beach for nine years. In 2023 he began his 54th year on active status as a [[Los Angeles County Lifeguards|Los Angeles County Lifeguard]].
Bonann has been recognized by both the Belgian Life Saving Federation, and the [[International Life Saving Federation]]<ref name="ilsf" /> for his dedication to the field, and in 2000 he was awarded the Gold Medallion from the International Swimming Hall of Fame<ref name="swimmers" /><ref name="ishof" /> for his achievements and contributions.
In 2021 the Professional Lifeguard Foundation honored Bonann with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his 52 years of service and dedication in fostering the professional and personal growth of the Los Angeles County Lifeguards through teaching and mentoring relationships.
== Early film career ==
Bonann began his career in film and television in 1978 when he was hired by John J. (Jack) Hennessy, of JJH Productions.  Hennessy had been producing films for the [[U.S. Olympic Committee]], and Bonann had connections to that world.<ref name="rescued" />
Hennessy took Bonann under his wing, teaching him to produce and direct documentary films.  His first major project was a film called ''Fire and Ice'', the [[U.S. Olympic Committee|USOC's]] official film for the [[1980 Winter Olympics|1980 Winter Games]] in [[Lake Placid, New York]], which told the story of the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|U.S. Men's National Ice Hockey Team]] victory over the [[U.S.S.R.]] and [[Eric Heiden]]'s historic five gold medals in [[speed skating]].  The documentary won several awards, including the [[CINE Golden Eagle]] and the 37th International Di Cinema Citta Di Torino for best sports film of the year.<ref name="rescued" /><ref name="lakePlacidNews">{{cite news |last=Manchester |first=Lee|date=February 19, 2005 |title=Wilmington will mark Olympic heritage with Saturday film screening |newspaper=Lake Placid News |location=Lake Placid, New York |page=1 |access-date=May 27, 2015 |url=http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn86033359/2005-02-18/ed-1/seq-1.pdf }}</ref>
When Hennessy died in 1983, Bonann continued to run JJH Productions, producing over twenty films, including two more official films for the [[U.S. Olympic Committee|USOC]]. ''Frozen in Time'' featured the [[1984 Winter Olympics|1984 Winter Games]] in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, and ''Elements of Gold'' highlighted the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Summer Games]] in Los Angeles.   Both films were recognized with numerous awards including the [[CINE Golden Eagle]].<ref name="rescued" /><ref name="lakePlacidNews" />
In 1987, Bonann formed his own production company called Tower 18 Productions, named for his original lifeguard tower on [[Will Rogers State Beach]].  The first project under his new banner was another documentary for the USOC called ''City of Gold'' about the [[1988 Winter Olympics]] in [[Calgary, Alberta]], Canada.<ref name="rescued" /><ref name="lakePlacidNews" />
All of Bonann's Olympic films used [[slow motion]] photography and music to accentuate the athlete's performances.  This would become his signature style.  In fact, many of the camera operators, production crew, and the editor that Bonann used for these early productions would form the core of the ''[[Baywatch]]'' production company.<ref name="rescued" />
== ''Baywatch'' ==
{{quote | text="My success was less about being a great filmmaker, and more about being a good businessman, surrounding myself with people who were talented in a variety of different areas."<ref name="malibutimes">{{cite journal |last1=Glickman |first1=Elyse |last2=Mullikin |first2=Patrick |date=Jul 2012 |title=Changing of the Guard |url=http://www.malibutimesmag.com/ |journal=Malibu Times Magazine |location=Malibu, California |publisher=Arnold York |access-date=May 21, 2015 }}</ref> |sign=Gregory J. Bonann | source=[[The Malibu Times|Malibu Times Magazine]] (Jul/Aug 2012)}}
During the mid 1970s, Bonann imagined a television series that featured the heroic stories of his [[lifeguard]] friends.<ref name="rescued" /> After meeting Stu Erwin Jr. of [[Grant Tinker]]'s [[MTM Enterprises]] in 1977, he [[Pitch (filmmaking)|pitched]] the idea, which at that time was called ''A.C.E.S.'', for Aquatic Corps for Emergency Service.  Erwin declined, but he encouraged Bonann to continue to develop the concept.<ref name="rescued" /><ref name="boffo" />
In 1981, while working at JJH Productions, Bonann began pitching the idea again.  At his mother's suggestion, he renamed the show ''[[Baywatch]]'', but he continued his attempts to sell the series with no success for the next six years.<ref name="rescued" />
Bonann met the writing team of [[Douglas Schwartz]] and [[Michael Berk]] through his sister, Deborah, who was engaged to Schwartz.  They agreed to help Bonann develop the project.<ref name="rescued" /> The three of them took ''[[Baywatch]]'' back to Stu Erwin, Jr., who was still working for [[Grant Tinker]] at his new production company, [[GTG Entertainment]].  In 1988, Tinker and Erwin added ''[[Baywatch]]'' to their projects in development.<ref name="rescued" />
Due to the [[1988 Writers Guild of America strike]], GTG was unable to use a written script to pitch the show, so Tinker asked Bonann to produce a video sales presentation.  Bonann used his documentary crew to shoot and edit footage of the March 1988 lifeguard tryouts, along with [[slow motion]] action shots of several of his lifeguard friends.  On the strength of that presentation, [[Brandon Tartikoff]] purchased a two-hour movie pilot for [[NBC]], after which ''[[Baywatch]]'' was picked up for series.<ref name="rescued" />
After one season on [[NBC]], ''[[Baywatch]]'' was [[Cancellation (television)|canceled]].<ref name="boffo" /> Tinker sold the rights to the program back to Bonann for ten dollars,<ref name="rescued" /> and along with Schwartz, Berk, and the show's lead actor, [[David Hasselhoff]], Bonann launched the series in [[first-run syndication]],<ref name="boffo" /> resulting in ten more seasons, including two in [[Baywatch#Baywatch Hawaii .281999.E2.80.932001.29|Hawaii]], and even a short-lived spinoff series called ''[[Baywatch Nights]]''.<ref name="rescued" />
Bonann's relationship with the [[Los Angeles County Lifeguards|L.A. County Lifeguards]] allowed him to build a functioning interior and exterior [[Set construction|set]] above the actual lifeguard headquarters on [[Will Rogers State Beach]], where Bonann began his lifeguard career nearly twenty years earlier.<ref name="rescued" />
''[[Baywatch]]'' was seen in 145 countries and was translated into over 42 languages.<ref name="boffo" /> It was listed in the 2001 [[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book of World Records]] as the most widely viewed TV series in the world with a weekly audience of over 1.1&nbsp;billion.<ref name="guinness" />
By its end, Bonann had executive produced 289 episodes of ''[[Baywatch]]'', ''[[Baywatch Nights]]'', and ''[[Baywatch#Baywatch Hawaii .281999.E2.80.932001.29|Baywatch Hawaii]]''. He directed a total of 75 episodes and 400 of his signature music montages.  From the beginning of the pilot movie in 1988 to the wrap of the final episode in 2001, ''[[Baywatch]]'' had dominated 14 years of Bonann's life.<ref name="imdb">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096542/combined |title=Baywatch on IMDB |website=IMDB |publisher=IMDB.com |access-date=May 23, 2015}}</ref>
Bonann shared in his ''BAYWATCH'' journey on the podcast [http://setbacksandsuccess.com/episode-1-the-creator-of-baywatch-shares-how-the-billion-dollar-brand-almost-failed/ Setbacks and Success].
== Later career ==
In addition to his work on ''[[Baywatch]]'', Bonann produced several TV pilots, series and TV movies, including ''[[Steel Chariots]]'' for [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], ''[[Thunder in Paradise]]'' starring [[Hulk Hogan]], and a pilot movie for [[UPN]] called ''Avalon: Beyond the Abyss''.<ref name="imdbBonann">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0093748/ |title=Greg Bonann on IMDB |website=IMDB |publisher=IMDB.com |access-date=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
In 2002, [[NBC]] and [[MGM Television]] launched a new series called ''[[She Spies]]'' starring [[Natasha Henstridge]]. After four episodes, the production shut down due to budget overages and creative discord.  The network and studio turned to Bonann to solve the problems, and production resumed.  The series went on to complete two seasons and forty episodes.<ref name="imdbBonann" />
In 2008, Bonann and wife [[Tai Collins]], a writer on ''Baywatch'', began developing an action drama series called ''[[SAF3|Rescue 3]]''.  After partnering with [[Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films|Emmet-Furla Films]], financing was raised.  The series was renamed ''[[SAF3]]'', and [[Dolph Lundgren]] and [[J.R. Martinez]] were cast as leads.<ref name="imdbBonann" />
Bonann began filming ''[[SAF3]]'' in [[Cape Town, South Africa]] in 2013, and twenty episodes were produced independently for first-run syndication.  It became the first independently financed one-hour drama to air in the U.S. on prime time. To date the series has been sold in sixty-six countries.
== Philanthropy ==
In 1992, Bonann and his wife, [[Tai Collins|Collins]], launched a non-profit organization called The Camp Baywatch Foundation<ref name="ishof" /> to benefit homeless and at-risk youth.<ref name="encouragingDreams">{{cite journal |editor-last=Graham |editor-first=Bridget |date=November 2010 |title=Encouraging Dreams: Malibu's Philanthropists |url=http://www.malibutimesmag.com/ |journal=Malibu Times Magazine |location=Malibu, California |publisher=Arnold York |access-date=May 21, 2015 }}</ref>
The foundation began by teaching inner city children about water safety through a week-long summer camp at [[Pepperdine University]] in [[Malibu, California]]. Bonann called in favors from ''[[Baywatch]]'' cast members, Olympic athletes, and other celebrities who volunteered at the camp.<ref name="swimmers" /> The children were not only taught to swim in both a pool and the ocean, but each received individual instruction in water safety from [[Los Angeles County Lifeguards|LA County Lifeguard]], [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]], and [[Los Angeles County Fire Department|L.A. County Fire]] personnel.<ref name="swimmers" /><ref name="ishof" /><ref name="usc" /> Since then, the charity has grown into a year-round program, partnering with [[Los Angeles Unified School District]], Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the [[Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles]], and the [[Los Angeles Police Department]].  In addition to the Summer Camp the foundation offers a variety of after-school, summer, and sports programs, as well as educational trips, and college scholarships.<ref name="swimmers" /><ref name="usc" /><ref name="todayShow">{{cite web |url= http://www.today.com/id/31447842/ns/today/t/lend-hand-help-those-need/#.VV7T4hfIvtQ |title= Lend a hand to help those in need |date= June 29, 2009 |website= The Today Show |publisher= NBC |access-date= May 21, 2015 }}</ref>
When the ''Baywatch'' television series ended in 2001, the foundation name was changed to "A Chance For Children Foundation".<ref name="swimmers" />
NBC's ''[[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today show]]'' honored Bonann in 2009 by choosing A Chance For Children as one of their charities of the year.<ref name="malibuTimes">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Giving Children a Chance |url=http://www.malibutimes.com/malibu_life/article_741a97b2-3953-58dd-9a48-097edba5edb7.html |newspaper=The Malibu Times |location=Malibu, California |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2015 }}</ref>
In 2013, while working on ''[[SAF3]]'', Bonann and Collins established a new branch of A Chance for Children in [[Cape Town]], South Africa.   This international extension of the foundation focuses on the education of the children of the townships of [[Langa, Cape Town|Langa]], [[Gugulethu]], and [[Khayelitsha]].<ref name="usc">{{Cite episode |title=Interview with Greg Bonann |episode-link= |url=http://trojanvision.usc.edu/greg-bonann-cuusc-42-4162014/ |access-date=May 21, 2015 |series=CU@USC |series-link=Trojan_Vision |first=Dustin |last=Skipworth |station=[[Trojan Vision]] |location=Los Angeles |date=April 16, 2014 |number=42 |language=English}}</ref>
== Awards and recognition ==
* '''[[List of medals for bravery|Medal of Valor]]'''(1989) Los Angeles County<ref name="rescued" /><ref name="swimmers" /><ref name="isf"/>
* '''Knight in the Order of Lifesaving'''(1996) [[International Life Saving Federation]]<ref name="ilsf">[http://ilsf.org/content/order-lifesaving/ Knights in the Order of Lifesaving – International Life Saving Federation website]</ref>
* '''Commander in the Order of Lifesaving'''(1997) The Belgian Life Saving Federation.
* '''Gold Medallion'''(2000) [[International Swimming Hall of Fame]]<ref name="swimmers" /><ref name="ishof">[http://www.ishof.org/gregory-j.-bonann.html Gregory Bonann Profile – International Swimming Hall of Fame website]</ref>
* '''Lifetime Achievement Award'''(2021) [https://www.prolifeguard.org Professional Lifeguard Foundation]
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Gregory J. Bonann}}
* [http://www.tower18.tv/ Gregory Bonann – Tower 18 Productions website]
* {{IMDb name|0093748}}
* [http://www.achanceforchildren.org/ A Chance For Children Foundation website]
* [http://www.ishof.org/gregory-j.-bonann.html Gregory Bonann Profile – International Swimming Hall of Fame]
* [http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2013/09/greg-bonanns-fairy-tale-life-and-work.html Greg Bonann's Fairy Tale Life and Work – Open Water Swimming website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonann, Gregory J.}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Television producers from California]]
[[Category:People from Santa Monica, California]]
[[Category:Living people]]