‘Baywatch’ Actor And Show's Only Real Lifeguard Dead At 68

LOS ANGELES, CA — Actor Michael Newman, who rose to fame on the 90s hit "Baywatch," has died from heart complications after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, it was announced Tuesday.

The Los Angeles native was an original cast member who appeared in 150 episodes of the show starring Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff. He shared a name with his character Mike “Newmie” Newman, and appeared in the "Baywatch" spinoffs.

Of all the tanned "Baywatch" stars, Newman was the only one who worked as a real lifeguard, spending 20 years as a lifeguard for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Deadline reported. In fact, he continued to work for full-time for Los Angeles County Fire Department during and after the show aired up until his retirement.

Matt Felker, director of Hulu's “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun,” announced his friend's death to People Magazine and mourned his passing in a post on Instagram.

"Few of us are lucky enough to have someone like Mike Newman enter and change their life, I met Mike 5 years ago in the beginning stages of a Baywatch series," Felker wrote. "Mike was not only a real life hero. He was a competitor through and through."

According to Felker, Newman died surrounded by loved ones.

"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 added. He found humor 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."