The true savior has died

For him, the distinctive red lifebuoy was not just a movie prop, but also a real-life tool. Michael Newman was a full-blooded rescuer. The star of the secret series “Baywatch” has died at the age of 68, it was announced on Tuesday.

Newman developed Parkinson's disease in 2007, but only went public with it last year. Speaking to People magazine at the time, he said: “Everything is changing. All the things you thought you would do with your children and grandchildren, the pictures we wanted to take, all the projects I had, have stopped.”

“Newmie” went from consultant to secret star

Michael “Nomi” Newman appeared in 150 episodes of the hit 1990s series about Malibu lifeguards and became the secret star of the series. Since 1996, he has appeared in the lead in “Baywatch” alongside David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, and at his peak had his own fan club.

But Newman stood out from the cast primarily because he was the only true savior. He was initially supposed to be just a consultant for “Baywatch,” but then joined the pilot as an actor.

His role as Mike “Neomi” Newman remains his great acting legacy. Then he worked as a real estate agent. Newman lived in Los Angeles with his wife and they had two children. Due to his illness, he was unable to move his retirement home to Hawaii.