Baywatch star Michael Newman has tragically died at the age of 68.
Newman rose to fame in the ’90s after playing a lifeguard on the long-running series, starring alongside Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed by Newman’s close friend, Matt Felker, who revealed the late actor died “from heart complications” on Sunday, October 20, according to PEOPLE.
The 45-year-old, who directed the recent Hulu docuseries After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, shared that Newman was “surrounded by his family and friends”.
“I got to see Mike the last time he was conscious and he looked [at] me and in typical Mike fashion said, ‘You’re just in time,'” Felker revealed to the outlet.
Newman endured an 18-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He was first diagnosed at the age of 50 in 2006 and devoted his later years to fundraising for the Michael J Fox Foundation.
In a heartfelt interview with PEOPLE this August, the late actor opened up about his desire to raise awareness about the condition through his own experiences.
“This terminal disease has allowed me a lot of thinking time, which I maybe didn’t want, but it’s brought me wisdom,” he said. “My body has changed so slowly that I hardly notice it, yet I am constantly reminded that Parkinson’s has now become the center of my life.”
Newman revealed he took 10 medications a day and would often wake up “jittery,” adding: “I am cherishing the days that I get to be on this earth with family and friends. I’m taking life seriously.”
He said that his life mantra is, “It’s not a run-through,” and concluded: “All those things that you thought you were going to do with your children and grandchildren, pictures we were going to take, all the plans I had… stopped.”
Newman was the only member of the Baywatch cast who was actually a lifeguard. He was also a firefighter who balanced his on-screen career with his full-time career.
Once the show concluded in 2001, he returned to firefighting before hanging up his helmet 25 years later.
The late star is survived by his wife of 36 years, Sarah, their children Chris and Emily, and their one-year-old granddaughter, Charlie.
Our thoughts are with Newman’s family and friends at this time.
Boy Decorates the House of a Lonely Old Lady for Halloween to Convince Her That the Holiday Is Worth Celebrating
Kevin eagerly anticipated Halloween after helping his mom with his costume and his dad with decorations. But one house stood out—Mrs. Kimbly’s, which was completely undecorated. Concerned that she might need help, Kevin knocked on her door, only to be met with a gruff refusal. Undeterred, he went home and shared his worries with his mom, who suggested that people have their reasons for how they act.
Determined to brighten Mrs. Kimbly’s Halloween, Kevin gathered his decorations and set out to decorate her house. When she confronted him, furious, and smashed his favorite pumpkin, he was heartbroken. That night, while trick-or-treating, he decided to sit on her porch and hand out candy to protect her home from pranks.
When Mrs. Kimbly found him, her demeanor softened, and she revealed her loneliness. Kevin offered her a way to celebrate together, inviting her to carve another pumpkin. Her smile returned, and for the first time in years, she felt the warmth of the Halloween spirit, all thanks to Kevin’s kindness and determination.
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