David Hasselhoff pays tribute to the Baywatch star

David Hasselhoff paid tribute to his former Baywatch co-star Michael Newman following his death at the age of 68.

In a tribute on Instagram, Hasselhoff said Newman, who was both a real-life lifeguard and an actor, “saved my life at least four times” during the filming of the wildly popular 1990s television series.

Only Hasselhoff, who played Mitch Buchannon, and Jeremy Jackson, who played Mitch's son Hobie, appeared in more episodes than Newman.

His death occurred eight years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

As a tribute, Hasselhoff posted a picture of the couple together and wrote, “Newman was a warrior…he literally saved my life at least four times.”

“He managed the transfer from the scarab (speedboat) to the jet ski perfectly several times. What a great man.”

“He was never afraid of the water. I remember directing a few episodes and he was really good. He became a great actor. We will all miss him.”

In his own post, Jackson said he was “so happy” and “honored to have crossed paths with Newman.”

He described him as a “true leader” and added: “There will never be another warrior like this.”

Newman's death was confirmed by his friend, filmmaker Matthew Felker, who recently directed the documentary After Baywatch: Moment In The Sun.

“Few of us are lucky enough to have someone like Mike Newman come in and change our lives,” he wrote on Instagram.

Days before his death, Felker said Newman joked that his visit came “just in time.”

“That was Mike – he had a sense of humor until the end,” Felker said.

Baywatch actress Gena Lee Nolin, who played Neely Capshaw, responded to Felker's tribute by saying, “Rest in peace, newmie.” He will be remembered by many and will be greatly missed. One of the good guys through and through.”

Newman was also a full-time firefighter and continued to work during filming of the hit US drama, which ran from 1989 to 1999.

The actor also starred in a number of Baywatch spin-offs, including Baywatch Hawaii, Baywatch: White Thunder At Glacier Bay and Baywatch Nights.

Newman did not take on many other acting roles, but appeared in the 1999 film Enemy Action with C Thomas Howell and Louis Mandylor.

Newman spent his final years working with the Michael J Fox Foundation to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease.