Gregory J. Bonann

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 (242 episodes), and was listed in the 2001 Guinness Book of World Records as the most widely viewed TV series in the world. He has remained actively involved with the Baywatch franchise for nearly four decades. Bonann is also one of the longest-serving active Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguards at 57 years and counting. Together with his wife, writer and producer Tai Collins, he co-founded A Chance for Children Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development, ocean safety, and educational opportunities.

Early life Bonann was born in Santa Monica, California, to Catholic parents Regina (née Caput), a bank teller, and Louis John Bonann, a physician and veteran of World War II. He was born with club feet and severe visual impairment, and was close to death twice before the age of two. 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. In his senior year, Bonann was voted most-valuable. He served on the beaches of the Central Section, including Topanga, Will Rogers, Santa Monica, Venice, and Del Rey. Bonann received the Medal of Valor from Los Angeles County for performing that rescue.

In 1994 the 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 City and County, Oahu, Hawaii.

Bonann transferred to the Northern Section of Los Angeles County in 2013, including Malibu and Zuma beaches.

When Hennessy died in 1983, Bonann continued to run JJH Productions, producing over twenty films, including two more official films for the USOC. Frozen in Time featured the 1984 Winter Games in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, and Elements of Gold highlighted the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Both films were recognized with numerous awards including the CINE Golden Eagle. |sign=Gregory J. Bonann | source=Malibu Times Magazine (Jul/Aug 2012)

During the mid 1970s, Bonann imagined a television series that featured the heroic stories of his lifeguard friends.

Career progression In addition to his work on Baywatch, Bonann produced several TV pilots, series and TV movies, including Steel Chariots for Fox, Thunder in Paradise starring Hulk Hogan, and a pilot movie for UPN called Avalon: Beyond the Abyss.

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.

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.

When the Baywatch television series ended in 2001, the foundation name was changed to "A Chance For Children Foundation".

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, Gugulethu, and Khayelitsha. In 2020, they expanded their reach to Eastern Cape partnering with Youth Potential South Africa serving children in rural communities.

For over three decades, A Chance for Children has served youth offering year-round programs focusing on youth leadership programs, scholarships, and ocean safety education.

Awards and recognition Medal of Valor (1989) Los Angeles County Commander in the Order of Lifesaving (1997) The Belgian Life Saving Federation. Gold Medallion (2000) International Swimming Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award (2021) Professional Lifeguard Foundation