Michael Newman, ‘Baywatch’ Actor and a Real Lifeguard, Too, Dies at 67

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As a die-hard Baywatch fan, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of loss with the passing of Michael “Newmie” Newman. His larger-than-life presence on the show was not just about his towering physique and charismatic charm; it was about the spirit of a real-life hero who dedicated his life to saving lives.

Michael “Newmie” Newman, a beloved character from the hit action series Baywatch who played the role of a lifeguard for ten seasons in real life, passed away at the age of 67 following a prolonged fight against Parkinson’s disease.

On Sunday, Newman passed away at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. This information was shared by Matthew Felker, who is involved in the creation of the Hulu docuseries titled After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun. It was back in 2006 that he received his diagnosis.

Two months ago, Newman shared with People magazine that having this terminal illness has given him ample time to reflect, a situation he might not have desired initially, yet it’s led him to gain insight.

A former competitor in the Iron Man race and firefighter, standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds in his best years, Newman was the sole member of the Baywatch cast who had genuine experience as a Los Angeles County lifeguard. He began his career as a junior lifeguard under the Santa Monica Pier when he was just ten years old.

On television’s Baywatch, Newmie appeared in 109 episodes between 1989 and 2000, spanning the first ten seasons – the initial nine of which were broadcast on NBC, while the remaining ones aired in syndication. Interestingly, only David Hasselhoff and Jeremy Jackson had more appearances during this period. Baywatch eventually grew into a worldwide sensation, gracing screens in over 140 countries globally.

During the duration of the series, he continued to serve as a full-time firefighter for Los Angeles County without taking any leave from his job.

Born on April 26, 1957, in San Francisco, Newman spent his childhood in Brentwood, Los Angeles. His English-origin parents, both involved in aquatic sports – his father, Michael, a water polo player for the British national team, and his mother, Joan, a swimming instructor – raised him.

He earned his high school diploma from Palisades Charter High School, shone on the swim teams at Santa Monica City College and UC Santa Barbara, and spent over two decades as a lifeguard before he was called to join Baywatch. (Interestingly, his brother Mark also worked as an L.A. County lifeguard.)

Since I fit the role, my fellow guard Greg Bonnan [the co-creator of Baywatch] asked me to be part of a promotional video to help sell the idea. He couldn’t offer payment, but he promised a job in it if it got aired. It was like a day in the life of a lifeguard: save the children, intervene in fights, meet a girl, walk away into the sunset – all quite similar to real life.

In 1989, Newman made an appearance in the pilot movie of “Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier” and was also part of the first episode of “Baywatch”. Initially, he wasn’t given credit for his roles in many early episodes. However, as time passed, he performed daring water stunts that others found difficult, and he even provided advice to the writers regarding rescue scenes. All these contributions eventually led to him being given dialogue.

He mentioned during an interview with People that they found me too valuable to let go. Originally, I began as a stunt performer, but only after seven years of not appearing in the opening credits did I eventually earn the recognition and permission to take the lead role on the show.

I was a devoted fan who followed Knight Rider right up until its tenth season, which took place in Hawaii. Unfortunately, David Hasselhoff and I parted ways with the series then, as it only ran for one more season after that.

Additionally, Newman featured in three instalments of the syndicated spinoff “Baywatch Nights” during 1996 and appeared in the 1998 direct-to-video movie titled “Baywatch: Tempest at Glacier Bay.

Besides Mark and his other sibling, Grant, the survivors also consist of his wife, Sarah, who he’s been married to for 37 years; their child, Chris, another Los Angeles lifeguard, and their daughter, Emily; as well as their grandchild, Charlie.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

50-year-old Newman, who tried to combat Parkinson’s through a disciplined workout regimen, received his diagnosis. He shared that plans such as spending time with his children and grandchildren, capturing memories together, all the dreams I had… came to a halt, he confided in People.

Chris Gardner contributed to this report.

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2024-10-22 20:56