Baywatch alum Michael Newman has died, 18 years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Newman died “from heart complications’ on Sunday, October 20, “surrounded by his family and friends,” his friend Matt Felker, who recently directed the Hulu docuseries After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, confirmed to People.
Newman became known for his role as lifeguard Mike “Newmie” Newman in NBC’s Baywatch, in which he appeared in 150 episodes from 1989 to 2000. Newman was the only cast member on the show who was actually a lifeguard. He had worked as an L.A. County lifeguard for 20 years, beginning at age 10 as a Santa Monica Junior Lifeguard.
Baywatch, an action drama series about lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County and Hawaii, was canceled after one season on NBC but survived in syndication, eventually becoming the most-watched series worldwide with over 1.1 billion viewers. Created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and Gregory J. Bonann, the series starred David Hasselhoff along with an ensemble cast that included Pamela Anderson, Alexandra Paul, Gregory Alan Williams, Jeremy Jackson, Parker Stevenson, David Chokachi, Billy Warlock, Erika Eleniak, David Charvet, Yasmine Bleeth and Nicole Eggert.
Newman also appeared in spinoff series Baywatch Nights and the 1998 film Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay, as well as comedy Welcome to Hollywood and action-drama Enemy Action.
Newman was also a full-time firefighter while filming Baywatch, and continued firefighting until he retired, according to People.
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Felker penned a remembrance to Newman on Instagram, along with photos of the two, writing “I lost my hero yesterday. As I told him before he left this Earth. I will see you again. I promise.” You can see his post below.