Baywatch star Michael Newman, a real life firefighter, passes away at 68

Former Baywatch star Michael Newman has passed away at the age of 68, close to two decades after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. 

The actor, who played Mike “Newmie” Newman on the blockbuster show, was the only cast member who once actually worked as a real-life lifeguard. 

His presence on Baywatch was second only to David Hasselhoff in terms of episodes appeared in, with Newman featuring in an impressive 150 instalments of the series. 

Worked as a firefighter 

He carried on working as a firefighter while he was also on Baywatch and continued until his retirement after 25 years of battling fires. At the age of 50, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Matt Felker, who is a director and Newman’s close friend, announced his demise to the public. 

According to the New York Post, he passed away on Sunday (Oct 20) “from heart complications” and was “surrounded by his family and friends.” 

Newman’s Parkinson 

“This terminal disease has allowed me a lot of thinking time, which I maybe didn’t want, but it’s brought me wisdom,” Newman told People earlier this year. 

“My body has changed so slowly that I hardly notice it, yet I am constantly reminded that Parkinson’s has now become the center of my life.” “I am cherishing the days that I get to be on this earth with family and friends. I’m taking life seriously,” he added. 

Newman is survived by Sarah, his wife of 36 years, their two children, Chris and Emily, and a granddaughter, Charlie, who is one year old. 

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In the past years, Newman dedicated himself to fundraising efforts for Parkinson's research, contributing to the Michael J Fox Foundation's mission to discover a cure for the disease. 

Baywatch 

Baywatch, the iconic American action-drama series, was about the lives and rescues of Los Angeles County and Hawaiian lifeguards, with David Hasselhoff leading an ensemble cast. Created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J Bonann, the show ran for 11 seasons under their production guidance. The star cast included Pamela Anderson, Alexandra Paul, Jeremy Jackson, Parker Stevenson, David Chokachi, Billy Warlock, Erika Eleniak, David Charvet, Yasmine Bleeth, Nicole Eggert, and Gregory Alan Williams.