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.
Luke Bryan Thanks Fans for Support After Losing Voice at National Championship Game
After Luke Bryan, a musician, lost his voice while supporting the Georgia Bulldogs during the National Championship game versus the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 10, his fans came together to offer him their well wishes.
Emotions were running high as Georgia won their first championship in more than 40 years, and the game was fierce. In the midst of the excitement, Luke Bryan ended up losing his voice.
Luke Bryan’s physician has directed him to take vocal rest till further notice in order to promote a quick recovery. In typical Luke Bryan style, the “That’s My Kind of Night” singer is preparing for his next gigs at Crash My Playa in Mexico while taking this time to heal.
Luke and his spouse Caroline laughed at the circumstances and posted a lighthearted picture to social media. Caroline joked that she was driving Luke nuts by talking nonstop while he was mute when she shared a picture of herself appearing to tape Luke’s lips shut. Fans were overwhelmingly supportive of their playful banter, with many of them being able to relate to the situation.
When Chase Chrisley from the reality series “Chrisley Knows Best” got in on the prank, the good times got even better. “Send the tape to my mom, I can tell you she wants it for my dad,” he said in a lighthearted manner. It appears that many people who have gone through similar experiences in the past have found solace in Luke Bryan’s voice loss.
Even though Luke is currently unable to sing, he is still aggressively promoting his just released “Up” music video. He looks content in the video and asks his followers to offer prayers for his voice while he takes a vocal break. Supporters have shown their steadfast loyalty by posting heartfelt messages saying how excited they are to party with him at Crash My Playa in Cancun.
Luke Bryan’s voice might be muted for the time being, but his passion and commitment to his craft never waver. Let’s all hope he heals quickly so we may enjoy his incredible performances once more.
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