Michael Newman Dies at 68

He was in the star cast of Baywatch, was one of the finest actors of Baywatch, and was also the lone real-life lifeguard featured in the show. Yes, we are talking about Michael Newman. He was featured in the Baywatch for 150 episodes from 1989 to 2001. He was playing the character of Newmie. Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J. Bonann, who produced the show throughout its 11–season run. In the recent news, we can see that he is dead now, that’s sad, isn’t it? Read more about the Baywatch star-cast.

A lifeguard on and off screen:

Newman was born in 1957 in California, United States. He was also an assistant professor in the Department of Linguistics and Communication Disorders at Queens College/CUNY.

He was the only real-life lifeguard in the Baywatch cast, and even after the show stopped, he did his duty for 25 years. He was even working while shooting for Baywatch. He was a real-life lifeguard and firefighter. While he was suffering from Parkinson's, he worked with the Michael J. Foundation for Parkinson's research to raise money for the chronic degenerative brain condition.

What went wrong?

He had been suffering from a disease called Parkinson's since 2006. Due to this, he was turning physically low. He suffered from it for 18 years, and last Sunday (20/10/2024), he died due to heart complications around his family and friends. During the documentary after Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, Newman revealed the daily struggles of his life he was facing because of Parkinson's disease. He said he needs to take 10 medications a day to deal with symptoms like constant jitters. Despite these challenges, he remained positive, focusing on his family and the simple joys of life.

His last words to the family and friends:

We only want our family and some close friends near us when we are leaving the world. He was lucky to have everyone around him while he was going. Before dying, Newman told his family and friends, "This terminal disease has allowed me a lot of thinking time, which I maybe didn’t want, but it’s brought me wisdom”. He told People, "My body has changed so slowly that I hardly notice it, yet I am constantly reminded that Parkinson’s has now become the centre of my life”.

His works:

He was one of the finest actors in Baywatch due to his real-life profession as a lifeguard and a firefighter. He appeared in many TV shows and movies like Baywatch, Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay, Enemy Nights, Zig and Zag Dirty Deeds, and Welcome to Hollywood. There are many more movies and TV series in which he played a role.