“Baywatch” star Nicolč Eggert is mourning the loss of her co-star Michael Newman, who passed away at 68 on Sunday. “Michael ‘Newmie’ Newman was an inspiration to everyone. His expertise, generosity in sharing knowledge, and his courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease made him a symbol of resilience,” Eggert, 52, shared with the Post on Tuesday.
“The beaches will never be the same, and my thoughts are with his family during this incredibly difficult time,” she added. “May he rest in peace and forever continue to ‘catch waves.”
Newman succumbed to Parkinson’s disease after an 18-year struggle. His close friend, Matt Felker, who recently directed the Hulu docuseries about “Baywatch,” confirmed his death.
Newman, a real-life lifeguard, died “due to heart complications” on Sunday evening, surrounded by his loved ones. “I saw Mike for the last time when he was still conscious, and in his usual manner, he looked at me and said, ‘You’re just in time,’” Felker recounted to PEOPLE.
Newman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 50 in 2006. “This terminal illness has given me a lot of time to think, which I might not have chosen, but it has brought me wisdom,” Newman told PEOPLE in August. “My body has changed so gradually that I barely notice, yet I’m constantly reminded that Parkinson’s is now the focus of my life.”
Source link: https://nypost.com
