A beloved television star from the 1980s was barely recognizable when she was recently spotted out and about in Los Angeles.
The actress, who once starred alongside David Hasselhoff in a hugely popular action series, kept a low profile in a baseball cap and checked shirt while carrying out home repairs.
Now 71, the former screen star appeared far removed from her glamorous TV days, opting for a make-up-free look and wearing her brunette hair straight as she focused on household chores.
The actress was none other than Knight Rider favorite Patricia McPherson, best known for playing mechanic Bonnie Barstow in the crime-fighting show. She seemed completely unfazed by the hands-on work, pulling on gloves and climbing up to repair her roof.
Once the job was done, Patricia was seen sweeping her yard with a broom, clearly taking advantage of the dry weather to get her home in order.
Her casual appearance stood in sharp contrast to her on-screen image in Knight Rider, where she sported voluminous brunette hair and polished, natural makeup. The series ran for four seasons and 90 episodes.
Patricia appeared in seasons one and three alongside Hasselhoff’s Michael Knight, with the duo sharing notable on-screen chemistry. She was absent during season two, reportedly following a disagreement with producers, and was replaced by Rebecca Holden.
However, strong fan demand led to her return, and she remained on the show until it ended after its fourth season.
Speaking to TV Guide in 1986, Patricia revealed that early scripts were often revised to give the show more emotional depth.
She explained: “The human side is missing. The script is just bare bones – we need to add a family feeling.”
She added: “Every day it was, ‘This is what’s written, but can we make it better? Can we make it funny? Can we make it feel like we actually like each other?’”
Off screen, Patricia stepped away from acting in 1991 and shifted her focus to environmental work.
She has since dedicated herself to protecting California’s wetlands, particularly the Ballona Wetlands in Los Angeles, and has been involved in legal action against the Playa Vista community over alleged methane gas misinformation.
Meanwhile, it was recently reported that Hasselhoff sold a working replica of KITT – the iconic Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from the show – at auction for at least £350,000, even promising to personally deliver the car to its new owner.
