Three Actresses, Two Faces, One Memorable Character: A Look at Neely Capshaw

In all of my stories about Cobra Kai, I've said that watching that show back in September 2023 helped me get through an illness I had. It was around Labor Day Weekend that I was watching that awesome show, and it was at that same time that I was sick to the point where I thought I had COVID for the second time (I first caught it on November 1, 2022). So yeah, Cobra Kai was a show that helped. It wasn't the only one.

I also binged Perfect Strangers during that time, but a third show also helped out: Baywatch. At the time, I had never watched Baywatch, but I sure as hell knew about it--mainly because of the women who appeared on that show. You name it. Erika Eleniak, Nicole Eggert, Yasmine Bleeth, Kelly Packard, Carmen Electra, and of course, Pamela Anderson, just to name a few. I've been sitting on this for about two years, and now, here's a piece about one of the many memorable characters on the show: Neely Capshaw.

The Season Five finale, "Wet 'n' Wild," introduced us to Neely Capshaw, portrayed as a transfer from Huntington Beach. She was introduced to Mitch Buchannon and Matt Brody to CJ Parker, but Neely took one look at Matt and was quickly taken. Neely attempted to seduce Matt, who was dating CJ. That would be the least of Matt's problems. Neely decided to drink some gin in her tower--a big time no-no--and Matt caught the scent of that gin on her breath.

Neely pleaded with Matt not to report it to Mitch, but he does, because it's the right thing to do. So how does Neely counteract? She resorts to falsely accusing Matt of sexually harassing her, and added that she would sue the entire team. Yikes! Matt spent the rest of the episode facing judgment and backlash over something he never did, over a lie perpetuated by Neely. So many knew Neely was lying, but out of all of them, CJ was the most infuriated. CJ did get Neely, though; she managed to trick Neely into confessing everything--and that confession was recorded.

In this episode, which aired on May 22, 1995, Heather Campbell appeared as Neely Capshaw in the character's debut. Campbell's portrayal of Neely was amazing, especially following Neely's heel turn nearly halfway into the episode. It would not be the last time we'd see Heather Campbell in the Baywatch universe; she appeared in an episode of the short-lived Baywatch Nights spinoff. Prior to this, Campbell appeared in episodes of 90210 and Melrose Place, and afterwards, she had a memorable appearance on Seinfeld, but hasn't acted since 1998.

So Neely was exposed at the end of that episode, but when Season Six began, she was back. So how was Neely back just like that? I mentioned CJ's recording of Neely's confession. Unfortunately, it was deemed illegal (because California is a two-party consent state when it comes to recordings), and Neely sued right afterwards. So to keep lawyers from getting involved, Neely was back, and she was letting everyone know it, and no one was happy--especially CJ.

Neely also wasn't happy, either, as she ended up with the position of a receptionist, and she spent several episodes complaining to anyone would listen (mostly those who didn't want to hear it) about her "crappy position" and that she was being "punished." As for Matt, he had left Baywatch, but was back as a guest character in episode 6.09, "Home is Where the Heat Is," and he and Neely were forced to work together, especially when they were held captive by kidnappers. Matt directly confronted Neely about her actions, and while they didn't bury the proverbial hatchet, at least they didn't bury a literal one in their heads.

I have to mention this; beginning with the two-part Season Six opener, Gena Lee Nolin took over as Neely Capshaw. I still remember seeing Nolin as a model on The Price is Right before joining Baywatch in this role, and during Season Six, while Neely wasn't as evil as she was in her debut, she continued serving as the heel among the lifeguards; being scheming, arrogant, and picking fights with CJ. Season Seven saw Neely visited by her ex-husband, Peter Andrews, and it was also during that season that Stephanie Holden was killed off during her honeymoon.

Neely spent Stephanie's funeral feeling guilty over the fights they had, and it was that moment that Neely's heel side started to fade slowly, bit by bit. Season Eight saw Neely pregnant and giving birth to a daughter, Ashley. The delivery resulted in Neely becoming addicted to pain pills, all while hiding her past pregnancy from Mitch, though she eventually came clean later in the season. Mitch was there for Neely and Ashley afterwards, and by that time, Neely was in full babyface mode (not white meat, but still). The season's progression saw sparks fly between Mitch and Neely, and it was in "White Glacier at Thunder Bay," the telefilm event that served as the finale of Season Eight, that Mitch and Neely actually tied the proverbial knot.

Season Nine began with Mitch and Neely in wedded bliss at Baywatch, but that all changed very quickly. The appearance of Neely's ex-husband, Peter, caused one hell of a shift. Neely had claimed to Mitch that she and Peter encountered each other. Nope. Peter informed Mitch that he had been in the Himalayas for six months and hadn't seen Neely. Even crazier, Peter never even knew about his paternal ties to Ashley. Oh man! Neely's confronted by Mitch, and she states that the truth wouldn't have mattered and that she was in love with Mitch, who had enough of Neely's deceptions and ended things with her.

Neely wasn't going to let a thing like a (potential) divorce stop her from keeping her position at Baywatch, and with everything out in the open big time, Neely turned heel once again, doing so by setting her sights on tormenting Mitch. Her insidious plan began with someone very personal to Mitch: Hobie, Mitch's son. Neely coerced Hobie into moving in with her, knowing that it would mess with Mitch, and she created quite the divide between father and son. But family friction wasn't enough for Neely. She wanted payback, and a lot of it.

Neely's actions regarding Hobie occurred in the episode, "Double Jeopardy," but it was in the following episode, "Wave Rage," that her villainous schemes were turned up to 100. Neely taunted Mitch, who made the big mistake of walking right into her trap and angrily confronting her. This ended up being followed by Neely falsely accusing Mitch of assault, and Alex Ryker was on the case, going from being skeptical of Mitch, to being skeptical of Neely. However, the evil Neely senses this, so she attempted to drug Alex--a move that would be known as "Mistake #1." Mistake #2, was Neely actually jaw-jacking with Alex, who responded by giving her two things: a pink slip and a right hook! Wow!

For Season 9, Neely was portrayed by Jennifer Lynn Campbell, who had appeared earlier in the series as Jessie Majors in a pair of episodes. Campbell (no relation to Heather Campbell) appeared in four episodes during Season 9, which saw Neely revert back to her heel persona in such delicious fashion. Jennifer Lynn Campbell truly portrayed Neely's reborn evil side very well, it was a sight to see, but it was also a sight to see Neely get her comeuppance as well.

Season 9 marked Neely's last appearances on the original series, but fans would see her again in Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding. Gena Lee Nolin, who was a year removed from starring in the Sheena TV series, returned as Neely in this telefilm, which premiered on February 28, 2003. I have still yet to see this, because I can't find it anywhere, but I do know that Neely does redeem herself in huge fashion. Saving your ex-husband from marrying an immensely dangerous woman will do that. Nolin hasn't done too much acting after this, though we would see her in 2016's Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens, in a Baywatch reunion that saw Nolin and Alexandra Paul reprise their roles and appear alongside David Hasselhoff, who played Col. Gilbert Shepard (the father of Ian Ziering's Fin Shepard).

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Neely Capshaw was quite the underrated character on Baywatch, especially compared to many other characters on the show. When I first watched this series a couple of years ago, I was surprised that three actresses played Neely, but I did love their performances. Heather Campbell delivered quite the scheming introduction for Neely in her one-shot apperance. Gena Lee Nolin really took the proverbial ball and did well with it, portraying Neely's troublemaking personality to perfection and shining when it came to Neely's redemption. Finally, Jennifer Lynn Campbell acting out Neely's heel turn and her vengeful demeanor was truly beautiful! Three actresses doing very well playing a deliciously two-faced character, on one iconic series!