Michael Newman obit

Michael Newman Dies: ‘Baywatch’ Actor Was 68

 

He was not on the list.

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.

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.”

Actor

Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Alexandra Paul, David Hasselhoff, David Chokachi, Gena Lee Nolin, and Jaason Simmons in Baywatch (1989)

Baywatch

5.5

TV Series

Michael 'Newmie' Newman

1989–2000

150 episodes

 

C. Thomas Howell, Beata Pozniak, and Lisa Thornhill in Enemy Action (1999)

Enemy Action

3.9

Casey

1999

 

Welcome to Hollywood (1998)

Welcome to Hollywood

4.9

Baywatch Lifeguard (as Mike Newman)

1998

 

Carmen Electra and David Hasselhoff in Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay (1998)

Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay

5.2

Video

Mike 'Newmie' Newman

1998

 

Baywatch Nights (1995)

Baywatch Nights

3.8

TV Series

Michael 'Newmie' Newman

1996

3 episodes

 

Zig and Zag's Dirty Deeds (1996)

Zig and Zag's Dirty Deeds

6.3

TV Series

Michael Newman

1996

1 episode

 

Erika Eleniak, Mädchen Amick, David Hasselhoff, and Parker Stevenson in Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier (1989)

Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier

6.2

TV Movie

Michael 'Newmie' Newman (as Newmie)

1989