Michael Newman, who portrayed lifeguard Mike “Newmie” Newman on the hit television series “Baywatch” for over a decade, died Sunday evening, October 20, 2024, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He was 67.
Newman died from heart complications after an 18-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, surrounded by family and friends.
Newman appeared in 150 episodes of “Baywatch” from 1989 to 2000, making him one of the show’s most enduring characters. Unlike his castmates, Newman brought authentic experience to his role – he was the only cast member who worked as an actual lifeguard, beginning his career at age 10 as a junior lifeguard at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.
Matt Felker, Newman’s friend and the director of the Hulu docuseries “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun,” which chronicled Newman’s 18-year fight with Parkinson’s, shared that he visited Newman shortly before he passed away. When Felker arrived, Newman, who had been largely unresponsive, suddenly woke up. Felker recalled how Newman “looked at me and said, ‘you’re just in time’ and laughed.” Despite his condition, Newman’s humor remained intact until the very end.
Felker and others read letters and played videos from friends, ensuring Newman felt surrounded by love. Before Felker left, Newman firmly grasped his hand, locked eyes, and gave a silent nod. Felker responded with a nod of his own, assuring Newman they would meet again.
While starring on “Baywatch,” Newman maintained his position as a full-time firefighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. After the series ended, he continued his firefighting career until retiring with 25 years of service. He also appeared in the spinoff series “Baywatch Nights” and the 1998 film “Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay.”
In 2006, Newman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 50. In recent years, he dedicated himself to raising money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help find a cure for the disease. He shared with People magazine in August 2024 that his illness had given him a lot of time for reflection, though it wasn’t necessarily welcome. However, he acknowledged that it had also brought him wisdom. He added that while the physical changes from Parkinson’s had been gradual to the point of being barely noticeable, the disease had nonetheless become the focal point of his life.
Before his diagnosis, Newman and his wife had planned to retire in Hawaii, where they had built their dream home. He is survived by Sarah, their two grown children, Chris and Emily, and their one-year-old granddaughter, Charlie.