Mitch did not always have a good relationship with his father. He felt Al did not love him and was disappointed in him. This was due to Al's wish that Mitch would follow in his footsteps and become an architect. For a while Mitch went along with his father's requests and even earned an architectural degree, working for two months alongside his father in the firm. However, Mitch decided it wasn't for him and he decided to become a full-time lifeguard instead, something he had dreamed of doing since he was a young boy. After Al's death, Mitch and Hobie made an annual trip to his grave each Memorial Day. In one episode of Baywatch nights, David Hasselhoff plays the role of Al in a flashback sequence to Mitch's childhood.