Michael Newman, the real-life bodyguard who embodied the role of Mike “Newmie” Newman for 10 seasons of Baywatch has passed away at the age of 68. His demise follows 18 years of suffering with Parkinson's disease. Newman's close friend, Matt Felker, confirmed the news.
Felker, the director of the new Hulu docuseries After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, revealed to People magazine that the actor passed away at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center "from heart complications" on Sunday, October 20 "surrounded by his family and friends."
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"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.'"
Michael Newman once said "Life is short," noting that his illness bought him a lot of "thinking time"
Michael Newman was on 150 episodes of the show over the years, second only to David Hasselhoff. It was this show that propelled him to fame.
Notably, while he did work as a lifeguard, the actor was a full-time firefighter instead, even while filming. When the show came to an end in 2005, he turned all his attention to combating flames, until he decided to retire 25 years in.
At the age of 50 in 2006, the actor cum firefighter was diagnosed with the illness. The show After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun revolved around the cast's life after the show, and so, it touched on Michael Newman's health struggles.
According to People magazine, he spent years of his life attempting to raise funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation to find a cure for his infliction.
In speaking with the outlet this August, the star reflected on the implications Parkinson's had on his life.
"This terminal disease has allowed me a lot of thinking time, which I maybe didn’t want, but it’s brought me wisdom. 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, expressing gratitude for being able to spend quality time with his loved ones:
"I am cherishing the days that I get to be on this earth with family and friends. I’m taking life seriously. It’s not a run-through.”
In speaking about his friend, director Matt Felker, and life at large, he said,
"Life is short. It is something I didn’t often give myself a chance to think about before my Parkinson’s diagnosis. Matt Felker, in the making of this documentary, has given me and other Baywatch cast members a chance to tell our stories as they truly reflect our real lives. This opportunity means a lot to me."
Michael Newman leaves behind his wife of 36 years, Sarah, and his two children: son Chris and daughter Emily. He is survived by his granddaughter, Charlie.
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