Hollywood star Michael Newman, who starred in 150 episodes of the hit TV show Baywatch and was the only member of the cast who was a lifeguard in real life, died on Sunday after an 18 year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 68 years-old.
Newman Passes Away
Newman’s close friend Matt Felker told People Magazine that the actor died “from heart complications” on the evening of Sunday, October 20 “surrounded by his family and friends.”
“I got to see Mike the last time he was conscious and he looked [at] me and in typical Mike fashion said, ‘You’re just in time,'” Felker added.
Wow. That is heavy.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Newman rose to fame in the 1990s portraying the mainstay TV lifeguard Mike “Newmie” Newman on Baywatch. Newman appeared in 150 episodes of the show, more than any other cast member besides the series’ star David Hasselhoff.
Newman was also a lifeguard and a full-time firefighter, maintaining his schedule at the firehouse while simultaneously filming the popular show. After Baywatch ended, Newman continued to work as a firefighter. He eventually retired after a 25 year career!
Related: ‘Baywatch’ Cast Reveals Dark Downside Of Starring On Hit Show – ‘Everybody Was Disposable’
Newman’s Parkinson’s Battle
Newman was only 50 years-old when he was tragically diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2006. His Parkinson’s battle was mentioned in the recent documentary Baywatch: Moment in the Sun. Newman spent his final years working with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to raise money to help find a cure for Parkinson’s.
“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 back in August.
“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,” he continued.
Newman went on to say that he took 10 medications a day and would often wake up “jittery.”
As for that wisdom, Newman realized the importance of 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. “It’s not a run-through.”
Baywatch ran from 1989 until 2001. Newman also reprised his role in three episodes of the spinoff series Baywatch Nights in 1995. He additionally appeared in the 1999 movie Enemy Action with costars C Thomas Howell and Louis Mandylor.
Last year, Newman opened up about why he retired from Hollywood after Baywatch ended.
“You don’t realize how hard it is to look natural in front of the lens and watch yourself improve and, sometimes, not improve,” he told People at the time.
“If you didn’t have to be there, why would you be?” he questioned. “Let’s be honest … there’s not too many actors that have survived the years of working in Hollywood.”
Related: ‘Baywatch’ Star Pamela Anderson, 57, Reveals The Real Reason She Left Hollywood
Newman’s Family
Newman is survived by his wife Sarah, who he was married to for 36 years. He is also survived by two children and a 1 year-old granddaughter.
Before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Newman had been planning to retire to Hawaii with his wife. They had built their dream home there only two blocks away from where the spinoff Baywatch: Hawaii had been filmed.
“Life is short,” Newman said two months ago. “It is something I didn’t often give myself a chance to think about before my Parkinson’s diagnosis.”
Please join us in saying a prayer for Newman’s family and friends during this difficult time.
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