People News

David Hasselhoff plans Hasselhof Germany move

Apr 23, 2010, 6:01 GMT

US actor David Hasselhoff presents his autobiography \'Making Waves\' in Hamburg, Germany, 21 April 2010. Hasselhoff\'s autobiography will be in German bookstores from 22 April on. EPA/FABIAN BIMMER

David Hasselhoff wants to move to Hasselhof.

The former 'Baywatch' star is planning to buy some land close to Kassel, Germany, near the similarly-named agricultural farm to see if he has ancestry there.

Hasselhof farmer Hermann-Josef Kaiser told German newspaper HNA: "If he wants to do some research here, he's absolutely welcome. I can provide him with a flat so he can do his research in peace and quiet. We would let him a hectare of land."

Meanwhile, David - who has a history of alcohol abuse problems - has admitted he thought his career would be over when he entered rehab in 2001 to seek help for his problems.

He told Bunte magazine: "I knew as soon as I went into rehab, my reputation would be ruined. Things used to be different back then. If you asked for help you lost your good standing. Back then all the celebrities smoked and drank. Just think of Richard Burton or Humphrey Bogart. No one questioned them. Consumption used to be acceptable."

The 57-year-old star - who has daughters Taylor, 19, and Hayley, 17, with ex-wife Pamela Bach - has publicly battled alcoholism for years and has been taken to hospital on several occasions, including for alcohol poisoning in October 2007.

The incident came months after an infamous video - filmed by his family - was leaked, showing him drunkenly writhing around on the floor trying to eat a cheeseburger.

He said afterwards: "Unfortunately, I did have a brief relapse, but part of recovery is relapse. I am a recovering alcoholic."