Traci Bingham

Lithe, attractive Traci Bingham won an added share of attention when she joined the cast of the syndicated series "Baywatch" in 1996 playing Jordan Tate, the series' first African American lifeguard. Raised in Cambridge, MA, and a Harvard dropout, she had a brief modeling career before moving to Los Angeles in 1994 to pursue an acting career.

Bingham initially landed small roles like a guest shot as a lap dancer in a 1995 episode of "Married...With Children" (Fox) and a bit as a "pretty babe" the feature "Tales From the Crypt Presents Demon Knights" (1995) before signing on for a two-year stint on "Baywatch." Her character was loosely based on real L.A. County lifeguard Ingrid Walters down to a dedication to environmental causes. Bingham left the series in 1998 when sweeping cast changes were made.