Michael Newman, known for his role in Baywatch, has passed away at the age of 61, 18 years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He died from heart complications on Sunday, October 20, surrounded by his family and friends, as confirmed by his friend Matt Felker.
Newman gained fame for portraying lifeguard Mike “Newmie” Newman on NBC’s Baywatch, with his character appearing in 150 episodes from 1989 to 2000. Notably, he was the only cast member who was a trained lifeguard, having served as an L.A. County lifeguard for two decades, starting as a Junior Lifeguard at age 10 in Santa Monica.
Baywatch, which depicted the lives of lifeguards in Los Angeles County and Hawaii, was initially canceled after one season on NBC. However, it found success in syndication, ultimately becoming a global phenomenon with over 1.1 billion viewers. The show was created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J. Bonann and featured an ensemble cast including David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, and Alexandra Paul.
In addition to Baywatch, Newman appeared in the spin-off series Baywatch Nights and the 1998 movie Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay, as well as in the comedy Welcome to Hollywood and the action-drama Enemy Action. He also worked as a full-time firefighter while filming Baywatch, continuing in that role until his retirement.
Felker remembered Newman fondly on Instagram, sharing photos and expressing his admiration, stating, “I lost my hero yesterday. As I told him before he left this Earth. I will see you again. I promise.”