Michael Newman, one of the lifeguards in the iconic series Baywatch, has passed away at the age of 68.
His close friend, director Matt Felker, who also produced the recent Hulu documentary After Baywatch, confirmed Newman’s death to People. “I got to see Mike the last time he was conscious. He looked at me with his signature expression and said, ‘You came just in time,’” Felker recalled.
Born in Los Angeles, Newman rose to fame in the 1990s as a key cast member of Baywatch. He appeared in over 150 episodes, more than anyone except David Hasselhoff.
In recent years, Newman was open about his battle with Parkinson’s disease. He worked closely with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to raise funds for Parkinson’s research, hoping to aid in finding a cure.
“I hope that by sharing my story, I can raise awareness of the importance of finding a cure for Parkinson’s. This incurable disease has given me a lot of time for reflection, perhaps more than I wanted, but it has also brought me wisdom,” Newman said in an interview with People last August.
