The Biography

Michael Newman (August 21, 1956 - October 20, 2024) was an American actor and firefighter, known as the beloved lifeguared Mike "Newmie" Newman on television series Baywatch, and was the only cast member with real-life lifeguarding experience. Over the course of the show’s 1989 -2001 run, he appeared in 150 episodes — second only to David Hasselhoff. He also served as a full-time firefighter, balancing his duties at the firehouse with his filming schedule. After the series concluded, he continued firefighting for another 25 years before retiring. Newman died from his long battle with Parkinson's disease since he was diagnosed in 2006.