David Hasselhoff leads tributes to Baywatch star

David Hasselhoff has led tributes to his former Baywatch co-star Michael Newman, following his dying on the age of 68.

In a tribute on Instagram, Hasselhoff stated Newman, who was an actual lifeguard in addition to an actor, “saved my life no less than 4 occasions” whereas filming the vastly widespread Nineties TV collection.

Solely Hasselhoff, who performed Mitch Buchannon, and Jeremy Jackson, who performed Mitch’s son Hobie, appeared in additional episodes than Newman.

His dying got here eight years after he was recognized with Parkinson’s illness.

Paying tribute, Hasselhoff posted an image of the pair collectively and wrote: “Newman was a warrior… he actually saved my life no less than 4 occasions.

“He did the switch from the scarab [speedboat] to jet skis a number of occasions completely. What an incredible man.

“He was by no means afraid of the water. I bear in mind directing him in a number of episodes and he was actually good. He grew to become an awesome actor. We are going to all miss him.”

In his personal submit, Jackson stated he was “so lucky” and “honoured to have crossed paths” with Newman.

He described him as a “true chief”, including: “There [will] by no means ever be one other warrior like this.”

Newman’s dying was confirmed by his pal, film-maker Matthew Felker, who lately directed the docuseries After Baywatch: Second In The Solar.

“Few of us are fortunate sufficient to have somebody like Mike Newman enter and alter their life,” he wrote on Instagram.

Days previous to his dying, Felker stated Newman had joked that his go to was “simply in time”.

“That was Mike – he discovered humour all the best way till the tip,” Felker stated.

Baywatch actress Gena Lee Nolin, who performed Neely Capshaw, replied to Felker’s tribute, saying: “Relaxation in Peace Newmie. He will likely be remembered and enormously missed by so many. One of many good ones via and thru.”

Newman was additionally a full-time firefighter and continued to work whereas filming the hit US drama, which ran from 1989 to 1999.

The actor additionally starred in a lot of Baywatch spin-offs together with Baywatch Hawaii, Baywatch: White Thunder At Glacier Bay and Baywatch Nights.

Newman didn’t go on to many different performing roles, however did seem within the 1999 movie Enemy Motion with C Thomas Howell and Louis Mandylor.

Newman spent his latter years working with the Michael J Fox Basis to assist discover a remedy for Parkinson’s illness.