'The Hoff is a part of my life that was invented in Australia': Former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, 66, reveals the surprising way he got his world famous nickname

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For millions of fans all over the world, former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, 66, is affectionately known as 'The Hoff'.

And now the veteran TV star and musician has revealed he gained his famous nickname from his fans in Australia.

Speaking to the The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, The Hoff credited his fans Down Under for the moniker while visiting Australia for the ARIA Awards in 2005. 

'The Hoff is a part of my life that was invented in Australia': Former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff (pictured), 66, revealed the surprising way he got his world famous nickname on Saturday

'The Hoff is part of my life that was actually invented in Australia,' David revealed, while promoting his new book Up Against The Wall. 

The star said he was jogging around Sydney Harbour when fans called out to him as 'The Hoff' - and the name stuck.  

'I was down in Australia and I picked up Missy Higgins at the ARIAs, she jumped all over me and they were all wearing Hoff masks and when I was jogging around Sydney Harbour, people stopped their cars and called out to me as The Hoff,' said David. 

Yep, that's it: David said he was jogging around Sydney Harbour when fans called out to him as 'The Hoff' and the nickname stuck. Pictured at the ARIA Awards, 2005

David joked that he was going to drop the 'Hassel' out of his surname, while fronting Australian telecommunications company Amaysim in 2015. 

And he later revealed exclusively to Daily Mail Australia that he once promised his late father that he wanted to 'one day make [their family] name famous'.     

'I talked to my [dad], and this is a true story. My father passed away last year, and I [once] said, 'Dad, one day I'm going to make that name famous, right',' David said. 

"'Dad, one day I'm going to make that name famous, right?"'- David recalled is promise to his father. David is pictured on the Baywatch set

It didn't take long either for the star to achieve the feat after becoming a household sensation with the success of '90s series Baywatch.

'And back in 1993, we're in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most watched TV show on the planet, and I said, "Hey, Dad, the name Hasselhoff is one of the most famous names in the world",' he recounted.

During the same interview, David said he almost changed his name when he scored his first job on long-running soap The Young And The Restless in 1975 - which he stayed with until 1982.    

'And back in 1993, we're in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most watched TV show on the planet, and I said, "Hey, Dad, the name Hasselhoff is one of the most famous names in the world",' he recounted 

'I had a chance to change it years ago,' he explained. 'They said, "Look, you've got your first job on the Young And The Restless... and you've got to change your name".'

They suggested he change his first name to 'Eric' - something David didn't take too kindly to.

David quoted the executives as saying, '"Sounds like he just got off the boat from Norway... So random".'

But he added: 'And then I didn't change my name.'   

Always Hasselhoff: David revealed he had the opportunity to change his name early in his career when he started on The Young And The Restless. Pictured with wife Hayley (L)