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Michael Newman, 'Baywatch' Lifeguard, Dies at 68 from Heart Complications After Parkinson's Battle

Oct 22, 2024, 03:24 PM

Michael Newman, the actor best known for playing lifeguard Mike "Newmie" Newman on the 1990s television series "Baywatch," has died at age 68 after an 18-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Some sources report his age as 67. A real-life firefighter and lifeguard, Newman joined "Baywatch" as a stuntman and technical adviser before becoming a cast member, ultimately spending 10 seasons on the show. "I was too useful for them to get rid of me," he once remarked about his transition to acting. Newman passed away on Sunday, October 20, due to heart complications, according to his friend and director Matthew Felker. His death comes just two months after he made a rare red carpet appearance at the premiere of a recent "Baywatch" documentary. Co-star Nicole Eggert paid tribute to him, describing him as a "beacon of strength."