Michael Newman, who played lifeguard Mike “Newmie” Newman on the legendary 1990s TV series “Baywatch” with David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, has died at age 68.
Newman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 18 years ago. His close friend Matt Felker — who directed the recent Hulu documentary After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun — revealed that the actor died of “heart complications” on the night of Sunday, October 20, “surrounded by his family and friends.”
“I got to see Michael the last time he was conscious and he looked at me in his typical way and said, ‘You’re just in time,’” said his friend, Felker.
He appeared in 150 episodes of the show, which ran from 1989 to 2001 – more episodes of the show than anyone other than David Hasselhoff.
Newman has spent the last few years raising money with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.