Former 'Baywatch' lifeguard dies at 68

Former “Baywatch” star Michael Newman has died 18 years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He was 68.

The actor's close friend Matt Felker – director of the Hulu docuseries “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun” – confirmed the sad news, revealing that his friend died of “heart complications” on October 20 and that he was “left behind by his family “I'm surrounded by friends and friends,” according to People.

“The last time I saw Mike was when he was conscious, and he looked at me and said, in typical Mike fashion, 'You're just in time,'” Felker told People.

Born in Los Angeles, Newman is best known for his role as Mike “Newmie” Newman on the series “Baywatch,” which ran from 1989 to 2001.

The show followed a team of lifeguards led by Lieutenant Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff) as they saved lives, dealt with personal dramas, fought crime and took part in daily adventures on a Los Angeles beach.

At that time he starred alongside Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Yasmeen Bleeth and other notable names.

He even reprized his role in three episodes of the 1995 spin-off series Baywatch Nights.

Newman was the only real lifeguard on the series and appeared in a total of 150 episodes, more episodes than anyone except Hasselhoff. He was also a full-time firefighter during his time on the series, returning to the profession after Baywatch ended its 12-year run. After 25 years, he finally retired from office.

At the age of 50, the star was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and has spent the last few years raising money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation to find a cure for the disease.

In an interview with People in August, Newman noted that he hoped “telling my personal story will raise awareness of the importance of finding a cure for Parkinson's.”

“This terminal illness has given me a lot of time to think, which I may not have wanted, but it has brought me wisdom.”

“My body has changed so slowly that I hardly notice it, and yet I am constantly reminded that Parkinson's has now become the focus of my life,” he said while promoting “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun.” made, he added.

In recent months, Newman worked with Felker on and helped put together the upcoming Hulu documentaries.

“Seeing it come back is really powerful and gratifying. “Baywatch is the gift that keeps on giving,” he told Digital Journal.

“In the early '90s, when we made the show, we had more freedom in terms of language and wardrobe. I had a lot of fun back then. “I tried my best to make all the rescue operations seem very realistic,” he continued.

“I got to go to work and get paid to do what I love: all the rescue scenes, diving, boating were things I excelled at, and I got to do all of that on the show, so that was cool ,” he added.

Newman is survived by his wife Sarah, whom he married 36 years ago. The couple has two adult children together: son Chris and daughter Emily, as well as a one-year-old granddaughter, Charlie.