Baywatch Star Michael Newman Dead at 68

Baywatch Star Michael Newman Dead at 68

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for the resilience and grace of humanity, I can’t help but be moved by the life and passing of Michael Newman. His story is a poignant reminder that life isn’t just about the roles we play or the titles we hold, but about how we live, love, and face adversity.


Hollywood is mourning the death of a beloved Baywatch alum. 

Michael Newman, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006, passed away on October 20 due to heart issues. According to his friend Matthew Felker, he was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his death. People magazine confirmed this news, and he was 68 years old.

In a post on Instagram dated October 21st, Felker wrote that not many people get to meet someone like Mike Newman who significantly impacts their life. He added this to videos of them together. Five years ago, when Felker started working as the director for the documentary miniseries, ‘After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun’, he met Mike. According to him, Mike was instrumental in bringing the series to completion.

As stated by Felker, Newman, who portrayed the character Newmie from 1989 to 2000, was not just a real-life hero; he was a true competitor in every sense.

In a touching note, Felker shared that he managed to visit Mike before his passing. Most of the time, Mike was unconscious, but when I arrived, it seemed like fate had intervened as he suddenly woke up, almost miraculously. He looked at me, smiled, and said, “You’ve just made it in time,” then chuckled. That was Mike – he maintained his humor right until the very end.

Felker added that right before he left the room, Newman “grabbed my hand as tight as he could and looked me dead in the eyes and just nodded, I nodded and said. ‘We will see each other again.. I promise.'”

Among the Baywatch cast, it was only Newman who had prior experience as a lifeguard in Los Angeles County. During the duration of the series, he was also a firefighter for LA County, a role he continued even after the show concluded, maintaining his full-time status as a firefighter.

Baywatch Star Michael Newman Dead at 68

Prior to his passing, Newman was open about how receiving a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis at the age of 50 led him to reflect deeply on his life.

In the interview with People magazine in August, I shared that this terminal illness has granted me a considerable amount of reflection time, which I hadn’t necessarily sought out, but it’s been enlightening for me. My body has been evolving at such a gradual pace that I hardly perceive it, yet Parkinson’s disease remains a constant reminder and the focal point of my life now.

He expressed, “I savor each day I spend on this planet surrounded by my loved ones – family and friends. I treat life with gravity. It’s not a mere rehearsal.

Newman is survived by his wife Sarah and their children Chris and Emily.

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2024-10-23 04:47