‘Baywatch’ star dies at 68 after battle with Parkinson’s: Buzz

“Baywatch” star Michael Newman is dead at age 68, his friend and “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun” director Matthew Felker announced Monday.
“I lost my friend. A hero. My hero,” Felker wrote. “Thanks for coming into my life Newmie. Even if it was a brief time.”
According to NBC, Newman died Sunday after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2006. Felker said Newman died of “heart complications” surrounded by friends and family.
Newman, who spent years raising money with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, was best known for playing Mike “Newmie” Newsman on the TV series “Baywatch” from 1989 to 2001. He was the only cast member with real-life lifeguarding experience and appeared in 150 episodes, second only to co-star David Hasselhoff.
NBC reports Newman, who also appeared on the spinoff series “Baywatch Nights,” also worked as a full-time firefighter around his filming schedule. He continued firefighting for 25 years before retiring.
Survivors include Newman’s wife of 36 years, Sarah, two grown children and a 1-year-old granddaughter.
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