David Hasselhoff has paid tribute to his Baywatch co-star Michael Newman, after he died aged 68.
Newman played himself, as a lifeguard, in the famous show, and was the third most regular actor after Hasselhoff, who starred as Mitch Buchannon, and Jeremy Jackson, who played Hasselhoff’s on-screen son Hobie Buchannon.
In 2006, Newman was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Posting on social media, Hasselhoff shared a picture of himself and Newman on set, saying: “Newman was a warrior….he literally saved my life at least 4 times.
“He did the transfer from the scarab to jet skis several times perfectly. What an amazing man. He was never afraid of the water.
“I remember directing him in a few episodes and he was really good. He became a great actor. We will all miss him.”
Meanwhile, Jackson said he was “so fortunate to have watched you be a real man” and was “honoured to have crossed paths” with Newman.
He described Newman as a “true leader”, adding “there [will] never be another warrior like this”.
Newman was also a full-time firefighter and continued to work while filming the hit US drama, which ran from 1989 to 1999.
He starred in a number of spin-offs and appeared in the 1999 film Enemy Action with C Thomas Howell and Louis Mandylor.
His later years were spent working with the Michael J Fox Foundation to help try to find a cure for Parkinson’s.
Newman’s death was confirmed by his friend Matthew Felker who recently directed the documentary After Baywatch: Moment In The Sun.
Days before his death, Felker said Newman joked he had visited him “just in time”.
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“That was Mike – he found humour all the way until the end,” he said.
Felker continued: “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.”