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.
Elvis Presley’s Grandson Takes the Stage and Shows His Talent
Dakota Striplin made a daring assertion on “The Voice,” implying he might be the grandchild of the late, great Elvis Presley, in the thrilling world of talent competitions. Dakota mesmerized the judges and audience with her soul-stirring performance of “Love Me Tender,” bringing back memories of Elvis with every note. With just his guitar for accompaniment, he gave a captivating and stirring performance.
The first judge was clearly captivated as Dakota’s ethereal voice filled the room; she turned her chair in appreciation and put her hand over her heart. Not long later, an additional judge, captivated by his captivating aura and remarkable voice, quickly turned around, anxious to discover the origin of this exquisite performance.
The judges questioned him about his song selection and sources of musical inspiration after his performance. Dakota spoke movingly about his family’s relationship with Elvis, describing his grandmother’s happy recollections of seeing him perform. He teased the judges with a funny joke about having a family link to the King of Rock and Roll, which made them laugh and joke about how much they looked alike.
Dakota added to the mystery by talking about other enigmatic parts of his ancestry, such as a major DNA discovery that raised questions about his confirmed pedigree and suggested a possible connection to Elvis Presley.
Experience Dakota Striplin’s captivating performance and fascinating background by watching the entire film below.
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