‘Baywatch’ Star Dead at 68
During its heyday, “Baywatch” was one of the most popular TV shows on the air
One of the character actors on the show has sadly passed away.
Michael Newman, who played in 150 episodes of the show, died last week at the age of 68 due to heart complications.
He’s Gone
We all know the big stars from the show, such as Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff.
And while you may not recognize the name at first, I guarantee when you see Newman’s picture, you will remember his character.
Newman was the only member of the show who was actually a lifeguard, so his expertise was leaned on heavily during production.
His last appearance on “Baywatch,” however, was the end of his career, as he would be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2006.
Newman has helping his friend and director, Matt Felker, promote “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun,” when he revealed, "My body has changed so slowly that I hardly notice it, yet I am constantly reminded that Parkinson’s has now become the center of my life.”
In addition to having been a lifeguard, Newman was a full-time firefighter while starring in the show.
The show seemingly worked around his schedule to accommodate his scenes in the hit series.
While promoting the new Hulu documentary, it was clear Newman was not nearly the man he was, showing the significant toll the disease had taken on his body and mind.
He was, however, very grateful for the documentary, stating, "Matt Felker, in the making of this documentary, has given me and other Baywatch cast members a chance to tell our stories as they truly reflect our real lives. This opportunity means a lot to me."
Newman’s acting career was primarily centered around “Baywatch,” with five of his seven credits linked to the series.
He also appeared in the TV series “Zig and Zag’s Dirty Deeds” and the movie “Enemy Action.”
Rest in peace, sir.