Michael Newman, star of Baywatch, has died aged 68. Newman played himself as a lifeguard, starring as the third most regular actor on the show after David Hasselhoff and Jeremy Jackson. The news of his death was confirmed by his friend, director Matthew Felker, and comes after Newman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006.

Newman worked as a full-time firefighter while continuing to film the US drama.
He also starred in several Baywatch spin-offs, such as Baywatch Hawaii, Baywatch: White Thunder At Glacier Bay, and Baywatch Nights.

Newman worked during his latter years with the Michael J Fox Foundation to help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Via an Instagram post, Felker, who directed the documentary After Baywatch: Moment In The Sun, said: "Few of us are lucky enough to have someone like Mike Newman enter and change their life.

"I met Mike five years ago in the beginning stages of a Baywatch series. After five years of following his life and becoming very close friends, Mike was able to see the series come to fruition.

"The amount of issues this series had, and hurdles, was like no other. Mike was not only a real-life hero, he was a competitor through and through.”

He continued: "I knew how much this series meant to him and his life. There were times I wanted to throw it all in the trash and then I remembered Mike – I couldn’t let him down, I couldn’t quit, he never did.

"I got to see Mike before he passed away. He was unconscious mostly… when I showed up he was awake, almost like a miracle, and looked at me and said ‘You’re just in time’ and laughed.

"That was Mike – he found humour all the way until the end.

"Before I left him, we read him letters and played videos from friends from all walks of life, he knew he was loved.

"Before I left him he grabbed my hand as tight as he could and looked me dead in the eyes and just nodded. I nodded and said ‘We will see each other again, I promise’.

"A few days later. I lost my friend. A hero, my hero. Thanks for coming into my life, Newmie, even if it was a brief time."

Baywatch co-star Gena Lee Nolin, who played Neely Capshaw, also paid tribute to Newman, saying: "Rest in Peace Newmie. He will be remembered and greatly missed by so many.

"One of the good ones through and through."