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Alexandra Paul

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For the Canadian ice dancer, see Alexandra Paul (figure skater).

Alexandra Paul
Paul in 2012
Born
Alexandra Elizabeth Paul

(1963-07-29) July 29, 1963 (age 61)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present
Spouse
Ian Murray
​
(m. 2000)​

Alexandra Elizabeth Paul (born July 29, 1963)[1][2] is an American actress. She began her career modeling in New York before landing her first major role in John Carpenter's horror film Christine (1983). This was followed with prominent roles in Just the Way You Are (1984), American Flyers (1985), 8 Million Ways to Die (1986), and Dragnet (1987).

She is best known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the television series Baywatch from 1992 to 1997. She has performed in a total of over 100 movies and television programs.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Paul was born in New York City to Sarah, a social worker from England, and Mark Paul, an American investment banker.[4] Paul was raised alongside her identical twin sister, Caroline, and younger brother, Jonathan, in the rural town of Cornwall, Connecticut.[5] According to Paul, her mother was "a very liberal Democrat and [her] father was a very conservative Republican."[6] Her twin sister Caroline has been a San Francisco firefighter (where she is often mistaken as Alexandra) and best-selling author.[7] Her brother, Jonathan, is an animal rights activist.[8]

Paul attended the Cornwall Consolidated School, and the Groton School in Massachusetts.[9] At ages 17 and 18, Paul underwent two major abdominal operations to remove choledochal cysts, which left her with a scar spanning from her sternum to her navel.[10] Paul was accepted into Stanford University, but chose not to attend so that she could focus on an acting career.[11]

Career

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Paul worked prominently in television from the late 1980s onward, perhaps most recognizable in her starring role on Baywatch, from 1992 to 1997. Paul began her career working as a model in New York City, and later moved to Los Angeles when she decided to pursue a career in acting.[11] Her first role was in the television film Paper Dolls (1982), followed by a role in the independent Canadian horror film American Nightmare (1983). Paul then landed a leading role in John Carpenter's horror film Christine (1983), opposite Keith Gordon, followed by a supporting role in the comedy Just the Way You Are (1984).

She later appeared in the sport drama American Flyers (1985) with Kevin Costner, 8 Million Ways to Die (1986), and the comedy Dragnet (1987), opposite Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd.[12] She also starred in the films Death Train (1993) and Nightwatch (1995) opposite Christopher Lee and Pierce Brosnan,[citation needed] as well as the horror films The Paperboy (1994) and Spectre (1996).

Since 1999, she has starred in 15 films for Lifetime Network. She has also starred in the Fox TV series Fire Company 132 and appeared in the last eight episodes of Melrose Place. She guest-starred on Mad Men in 2008.[citation needed] She hosted non-fiction TV shows, including WE's Winning Women and a southern California local environmentalism show, Earth Talk Today.[13][14] She made a cameo appearance with Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan in a deleted scene parodying her Baywatch role.[15] She did a cameo in the comedy spoofs Spy Hard and Sharknado: The 4th Awakens.[16]

In 2015, Paul won Indie Series' Best Supporting Actress in a comedy webseries.[17]

Paul co-wrote and co-produced two documentaries: Jampacked, a documentary on the world population crisis, and The Cost of Cool: Finding Happiness in a Materialistic World. Jampacked received a Bronze Apple Award and first place recognition at the EarthVision Environmental Film and Video Festival. The Cost of Cool won a CINE Golden Eagle Award.[citation needed] She also produced eight PSAs on the benefits of driving electric vehicles for the non-profit Plug In America.[18]

In 2019, Paul acted in three movies, among them, Escaping My Stalker. In 2020, she appeared in four projects, and in 2022 she starred in the independent films Tethered and Baby Steps.

Since 2019, Paul has co-hosted the plant based lifestyle podcast Switch4Good with Olympian Dotsie Bausch.[19] In 2024, their show was named Best Vegan Podcast by Mercy for Animals.[20] In 2024, Alexandra was featured in the Hulu docuseries After Baywatch: A Moment in the Sun, an in depth look at the series Baywatch and the actors involved in the show.

Personal life

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Alexandra and triathlon coach Ian Murray have been together since 1995, and they married in 2000. She became a vegetarian at age fourteen after reading the book Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé, and became a vegan in 2010.[11][21]

As an athlete, Paul raced the Hawaii Ironman in 1997.[22] She ran the 2000 Boston Marathon.[23][24] She has also swam the 11 mile Fiji Swim,[25] the 12.5 mile Swim Around Key West[26] and the 2014 Reto Acapulco 14 mile swim,[27] among others.

In 2015, Paul became a certified health coach[28] and had her own wellness coaching business for 7 years.[29]

Activism

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At the age of 22, Alexandra co-founded Young Artists United with 21 year old producer and manager Daniel Sladek. YAU was made up of young actors, producers, writers and other Hollywood creatives working together to have a positive effect by speaking in schools, raising money for youth organizations and producing PSAs. It was honoured by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Paul is also an animal rights, environmental, peace and gay rights activist.[9] She walked 5+1⁄2 weeks on the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament in 1986. Paul has been arrested for civil disobedience over a dozen times at the Nevada Test Site between 1987 and 2000.[30] In 1989, she was arrested for peacefully advocating on behalf of people with HIV.[31] She was arrested twice in 2003 for civil disobedience protesting the Iraq War and spent five days in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center after refusing to pay the $50 fine. In 2005, she was arrested for protesting the crushing of the EV1, and performed 80–100 hours of community service for electric car organizations.[32][33] Paul's younger brother, Jonathan, is also an animal rights activist, who served 51 months in prison for his role in the arson of a slaughterhouse.[34]

She has traveled to Nicaragua with Operation USA and to South Africa to register voters. Paul volunteered in Sierra Leone with the non profit Population Media Center. In 2006, Paul donated $250 to the Ned Lamont campaign against Joe Lieberman, because Lieberman supported the war in Iraq.[35][36]

Paul was an active member for 9 years of the Santa Monica, CA chapter of Food Not Bombs,[37] where she picked up donations, cooked, and served hot vegan meals to the homeless community every Thursday evening. She also registered voters sitting at a card table on LA street corners for 2 hours a week from 1989 to 2010 with The First Vote.

She received the 2014 Vegan of the Year by Last Chance for Animals,[38] and in 2007 received a United Nations Environment Programme honor for her contribution to overpopulation issues.[39]

In 2016, Paul joined Direct Action Everywhere in an open rescue of several pigs from a factory farm.[40] In 2017, she joined a sit-in at an Oakland, California slaughterhouse and was arrested.[41] In 2018, she was arrested for a civil disobedience action at Sunrise Chicken Farm.[42] In 2019, she was arrested for peacefully protesting at Reichardt Duck Farm and spent two days in Sonoma County jail.[43] In September 2020, Paul and 6 other DxE activists were arrested for trying to rescue a pig from a Farmer John slaughterhouse in Vernon, CA.[44] In 2023, Alexandra went to court for rescuing a chicken from a Foster Farms slaughterhouse truck. After a 9 day trial, she was acquitted.

In discussing her political activism, Paul said:

I am sure there are some who do not like me for my outspokenness and my views, and I totally respect their right to boycott my projects. I actually respect folks who stand up for their beliefs — even if I disagree with them — more than the folks who do not care, are afraid to 'get involved', or who cannot be bothered. I admire passion and commitment. A woman once told me she could not watch those slaughterhouse videos because she 'loves animals so much' and it would upset her. I would prefer to hang out with a hunter who believes he is doing the right thing, than a wuss like her.[11]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Paper Dolls Laurie Caswell TV movie
1983 American Nightmare Isabelle
Christine Leigh Cabot
1984 Getting Physical Kendall Gibley TV movie
Just the Way You Are Bobbie
1985 American Flyers Becky
1986 8 Million Ways to Die Sunny
1987 Dragnet Connie Swail
1988 After the Rain Annie May Bonner
Out of the Shadows Jan Lindsey TV film
It's Cool to Care - Short
1989 Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson Amy Hastings TV movie
Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder Amy Hastings TV movie
Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin Amy Hastings TV movie
1990 Laker Girls Heidi/Jenny TV movie
1991 Millions Giulia Ferretti
In Between Amy Budd
1992 Kuffs The Chief's Wife
Prey of the Chameleon Carrie TV movie
1993 Sunset Grill Anita
Death Train Sabrina Carver TV movie
1994 Nothing to Lose Natasha
The Paperboy Melissa Thorpe
1995 Baywatch the Movie: Forbidden Paradise Lieutenant Stephanie Holden Video
Piranha Maggie McNamara TV movie
Night Watch Sabrina Carver TV movie
Cyber Bandits Rebecca Snow
Mixed Blessings Beth TV movie
1996 Spy Hard Woman In Murphy Bed
Spectre Maura South
Kid Cop Sarah Hansen Video
Daytona Beach Annie Gibson TV movie
1997 Echo Olivia Jordan TV movie
Kiss & Tell Bambi
1998 12 Bucks Epiphany Lovejoy
1999 Arthur's Quest Caitlin Regal TV movie
2000 Revenge Laura Underwood
The Brainiacs.com Kara Banks
Green Sails Laura Taylor TV movie
2001 For the Love of May Emily Short
Above & Beyond Jill Amorosa
10 Attitudes Leslie
Facing the Enemy Olivia McCleary
Rough Air: Danger on Flight 534 Flight Attendant Katy Phillips TV movie
Diary of a Sex Addict Katherine Video
Breaking Up Really Sucks Charlie Short
Exposure Jackie Steerman Video
2002 Redemption of the Ghost Audrey Powell
2003 Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding Allison Ford TV movie
A Woman Hunted Lainie Wheeler
2004 Saving Emily Cheryl TV movie
2005 Landslide Emma Decker TV movie
The Phone Ranger Short TV movie
A Lover's Revenge Liz Manners TV movie
2006 Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York Dr. Susan Foxley TV movie
Love Thy Neighbor Laura Benson TV movie
Gospel of Deceit Emily TV movie
A.I. Assault Marlon Adams TV movie
Trapped! Samantha Reed TV movie
2007 Demons from Her Past Allison Buchanan TV movie
2008 Tru Loved Leslie
Murder Dot Com Stacy
2009 A Sister's Secret Katherine TV movie
Benny Bliss and the Disciples of Greatness Mall Gal
Christmas Crash Christine Johnson Video
He's Such a Girl Linda
Family of Four Janice Baker Video
2010 In My Sleep Roxana
The Boy She Met Online Tori Winters
2011 Betrayed at 17 Michelle Ross TV movie
Christmas Spirit Winnie TV movie
Javelina Lora
2012 16-Love Margo Mash
The Frankenstein Brothers Laurie Martinson
Love at the Christmas Table Eve Reed TV movie
2014 Dinner at Le Cruel Wife Short
Firequake Dr. Eve Carter TV movie
Mentor Alexandra Short
2015 Flirting with Madness Detective Kathy Schumaker
2016 Dirty Assistant D.A Sara Dunlap
Sharknado: The 4th Awakens Stephanie Holden TV movie
2017 Born and Missing Detective Breuer TV movie
2018 Say Yes Mrs. Muñoz
2020 Escaping My Stalker Sandy TV movie
Finding Sara Aunt Carrie
The Estate Bethenny
Pink Skies Ahead Mercedes
2022 Tethered Nidia
Another Coffee House Chronicles Movie Amy
2023 Baby Steps Abigail Munoz

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Hitchhiker Julie Episode: "Minuteman"
1992–97 Baywatch Lieutenant Stephanie Holden Main Cast: Season 3–6, Recurring Cast: Season 7
1993 What's Up Doc? Herself Recurring Guest
Johnny Bago Erica Episode: "Spotting Elvis"
1994 This Is Your Life Herself Episode: "David Hasselhoff"
1995 Wheel of Fortune Herself/Celebrity Contestant Episode: "Celebrity Week 4"
1996 L.A. Firefighters Firefighter T.K. Martin Main Cast
1997 Brass Eye Herself (voice) Episode: "Animals"
Baywatch Nights Lieutenant Stephanie Holden Episode: "The Eighth Seal"
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Gillian Stanfield Episode: "All That Glitters"
1999 Melrose Place Terry O'Brien Recurring Cast: Season 7
2000 Chicken Soup for the Soul Leann Richards Episode: "Destiny in a Bottle"
2001 The Test Herself/Panelist Episode: "The Slut Test"
2001–04 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Recurring Guest
2003 She Spies Christine Black Episode: "Date to Mate"
2004 Getaway Herself Episode: "Getaway Goes to Hollywood"
2005 Biography Herself Episode: "David Hasselhoff: Driven"
Class of... Herself Episode: "1989: Life After Baywatch"
2007 Whatever Happened To? Herself Episode: "Beach Babes"
2008 Mad Men Pauline Phillips Episode: "Maidenform"
2011 The Traveler's Guide to Life Herself Episode: "Family" & "Winning"
2014 Alive & Well with Michelle Harris Herself Episode: "Look Better, Feel Better"
2020 Coffee House Chronicles Amy Episode: "Good Grief" & "Bad Math"
2021 TV Therapy Stephanie Episode: "Stephanie"

References

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  1. ^ "Alexandra Paul Biography". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ "Alexandra Paul". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ "Baywatch Nights' model keeps a lookout for not-so-wholesome role". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  4. ^ "Interview: Actress Alexandra Paul". Movie Geeks United. June 19, 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  5. ^ Morales, Tito (February 23, 2005). "Exclusive: Actress Alexandra Paul Conquers the Bonaire Ecoswim". Swimming World Magazine. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  6. ^ Wagner, Joyce (April 19, 1993). "Brother Behind Bars". People. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  7. ^ "When Your Twin is a Famous 'Baywatch' Star, and You're Not". April 15, 2016. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Paul, Caroline (May 24, 2007). "My brother, the 'terrorist'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Hal Erickson (2015). "Biography: Alexandra Paul". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  10. ^ Paul, Alexandra (September 8, 2002). "Baywatch Diaries – Day 4". Alexandra Paul Official Website. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2022. I have never been in a two piece bathing suit on Baywatch, because I have a scar that goes from my sternum down to my belly button, and two smaller scars where the drainage tubes came out. This was from two big surgeries I had when I was 16 and 18 (1979 and 1981), when there was no such thing as laparascopies...I had had a cyst in my bile duct and the first surgery took 12 hours, so my scar was pretty noticeable.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ a b c d Meehan, Ryan (April 22, 2015). "10 Questions with Alexandra Paul". First Order Historians. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  12. ^ "CHRISTINE Revisited, Part Two: A Q&A with Alexandra Paul Archived March 26, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, fangoria.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
  13. ^ "Alexandra Paul Hosts Female Extreme Sports Series Premiering April 19". AMC Networks. April 15, 2003. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. ^ "About EarthTalk Today TV". EarthTalk Today. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  15. ^ "'Baywatch' Cast Then & Now". xfinity.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  16. ^ "There Was Just a "Baywatch" Reunion -- Which Lifeguards Will Star In "Sharknado 4"?". Too Fab. March 15, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  17. ^ "6th Annual Indie Series Awards: Complete List of Winners". Indie Series Awards. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  18. ^ "Drive Electric". Plugin America. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  19. ^ "Podcast - Switch4Good". switch4good.org. January 22, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  20. ^ "Mercy for Animals' 25th Anniversary Digital Award Winners".
  21. ^ Staff (November 20, 2014). "We Catch Up With Former 'Baywatch' Star Alexandra Paul!". Life & Style. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  22. ^ Bigold, Pad. "Ironman full of drama at the finish line". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  23. ^ "boston marathon | The Official Alexandra Paul Website". alexandrapaul.com. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  24. ^ "Exclusive: Actress Alexandra Paul Conquers the Bonaire Ecoswim – Swimming World News". Swimming World News. February 23, 2005. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  25. ^ "Ultra-Distance Swims With Alexandra Paul". Inside Sport. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  26. ^ "36th Annual Swim Around Key West 2012". southernmostrunners.com. June 23, 2012. Archived from the original on July 3, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  27. ^ "What I did today for 7 hours straight". alexandrapaul.com. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  28. ^ "The Baywatch Actress Alexandra Paul Turns Health & Wellness Coach! - Women Fitness". Women Fitness. September 19, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  29. ^ "Alexandra Paul: Health, Wellness & Fitness Coaching in Los Angeles". Alexandra Paul Wellness Coaching. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  30. ^ Caps 2.0. "A Talk with Alexandra Paul". Retrojunk. Retrieved November 29, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Photo, alexandrapaul.com; accessed April 30, 2016.
  32. ^ Profile, alexandrapaul.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
  33. ^ PBS, NOW- (2006). "NOW – Who Killed the Electric Car?". pbs.org.
  34. ^ Paul, Caroline (May 24, 2007). "My brother, the 'terrorist'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  35. ^ Lockhart, Brian. "70% of donors to Lamont's campaign are from out of state". The Advocate. Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  36. ^ Lechaux & Roussel 2010, pp. 136–39.
  37. ^ "How to do More for Others: Become a Food Not Bombs Volunteer – Switch4Good". April 6, 2020.
  38. ^ 2014 Vegan of the Year, alexandrapaul.com; accessed July 29, 2015.
  39. ^ "Hollywood Actress, Alexandra Paul, to Train Actors in Sierra Leone". Population Media. February 21, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  40. ^ "How a Baywatch Star Saved Miley from Becoming Meat". Direct Action Everywhere. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  41. ^ Velez-Mitchell, Jane (October 23, 2017). "22 Animal Activists Arrested in Open Rescue at Slaughterhouse!". janeunchained.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  42. ^ "39 Arrested Protesting Industrial Farm Supplying So-Called "Cage-Free" Eggs to Amazon & Whole Foods". Democracy Now!. May 30, 2018. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021 – via Youtube.
  43. ^ "Hundreds of Animal Rights Activists Descend on Slaughterhouse, Locking Necks to Slaughter Line". indybay.org. June 3, 2019. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  44. ^ "Animal rights activists cited for attempted pig rescue at Farmer John plant". Fox11 Los Angeles. September 26, 2020. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

Bibliography

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  • Lechaux, Bleuwenn & Violane Roussel (2010). Voicing Dissent: American Artists and the War on Iraq. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-80058-7.
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