On the evening of October 20, 2024, Michael Newman, famed for his role as lifeguard Mike “Newmie” Newman on the iconic TV series “Baywatch,” passed away at the age of 67. Newman died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Heart complications following a long-standing battle with Parkinson’s disease were the cause of Newman’s death. He was surrounded by loved ones during his final moments.
“Baywatch” featured Newman in 150 episodes from 1989 to 2000, establishing him as one of the show’s most memorable characters. Unlike his co-stars, Newman brought genuine lifeguarding experience to his role, as he was the only one among them to have worked as a real-life lifeguard. His career began at 10 years old as a junior lifeguard at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.
Matt Felker, a close friend and director of the Hulu docuseries “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun,” which documented Newman’s struggle with Parkinson’s, visited Newman shortly before he passed away. Newman, who had been largely unresponsive, suddenly woke up upon Felker’s arrival. Newman humorously remarked, “You’re just in time” according to Felker.
Felker and others present read out letters and played videos from friends, providing a comforting environment for Newman. Before Felker departed, Newman held his hand, looked into his eyes, and nodded silently. Felker reciprocated with a similar gesture, signifying a promise to meet again.
During his tenure on “Baywatch,” Newman also served as a full-time firefighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. After the series’ conclusion, he continued his firefighting career until his retirement after 25 years of service. He also made appearances in the spinoff “Baywatch Nights” and the 1998 movie “Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay.”
Newman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 50 in 2006. In his later years, he devoted his efforts to fundraising for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, aimed at finding a cure for the disease. In an interview with People magazine in August 2024, Newman conveyed that the disease had allowed him to reflect, albeit unwillingly, but had also rendered him wisdom. Although the physical changes due to Parkinson’s had been slow and almost unnoticeable, the disease had become the center of his life.
Before his diagnosis, Newman and his wife Sarah had planned to retire in Hawaii, where they had built their dream home. Newman is survived by his wife, their two adult children, Chris and Emily, and their one-year-old granddaughter, Charlie.
