Michael Newman 'saved David Hasselhoff's life four times' as they filmed Baywatch

Michael Newman was the 3rd astir regular histrion connected Baywatch aft David Hasselhoff, who played Mitch Buchannon, and Jeremy Jackson, who played Hasselhoff's on-screen lad Hobie Buchannon

Michael Newman "saved David Hasselhoff's beingness 4 times" arsenic they filmed Baywatch, The Hoff says.

Newman played himself arsenic a lifeguard and was the 3rd astir regular histrion connected Baywatch aft Hasselhoff, who played Mitch Buchannon, and Jeremy Jackson, who starred arsenic Hasselhoff's on-screen lad Hobie Buchannon.

The histrion died aged 68 from "heart complications" pursuing a travel with Parkinson's disease. Paying tribute to the actor, Hasselhoff said: "Newman was a warrior....he virtually saved my beingness astatine slightest 4 times. He did the transportation from the scarab to pitchy skis respective times perfectly. What an astonishing man.

"He was ne'er acrophobic of the water. I retrieve directing him successful a fewer episodes and helium was truly good. He became a large actor. We volition each miss him."

Meanwhile Jackson said helium was "so fortunate to person watched you beryllium a existent man" and helium was "honoured to person crossed paths" with Newman successful respective posts connected his Instagram story.

He described him arsenic a "true leader", adding "there (will) ne'er ever beryllium different warrior similar this". Newman's decease was confirmed by his friend, filmmaker Matthew Felker, who precocious directed the documentary After Baywatch: Moment In The Sun.

"Few of america are fortunate capable to person idiosyncratic similar Mike Newman participate and alteration their life," helium wrote connected Instagram.

"I met Mike 5 years agone successful the opening stages of a Baywatch series. After 5 years of pursuing his beingness and becoming precise adjacent friends, Mike was capable to spot the bid travel to fruition.

"The magnitude of issues this bid had, and hurdles, was similar nary other. Mike was not lone a real-life hero, helium was a rival done and through.

"I knew however overmuch this bid meant to him and his life. There were times I wanted propulsion it each successful the trash and past I remembered Mike - I couldn't fto him down, I couldn't quit, helium ne'er did.

"We succeeded unneurotic pulling thing disconnected that was astir intolerable against hurdles you wouldn't believe. Seeing him airy up astatine our premiere successful Santa Monica was worthy each the bullshit I endured for years."

Days anterior to his death, Felker said Newman had joked his sojourn was "just successful time". Felker added: "That was Mike - helium recovered humour each the mode until the end.

"Before I near him helium grabbed my manus arsenic choky arsenic helium could and looked maine dormant successful the eyes and conscionable nodded. I nodded and said 'We volition spot each different again, I promise'. A fewer days later. I mislaid my friend. A hero, my hero. Thanks for coming into my life, Newmie, adjacent if it was a little time."

His Baywatch co-star Gena Lee Nolin, who played Neely Capshaw, replied to Felker's tribute, saying: "Rest successful Peace Newmie. He volition beryllium remembered and greatly missed by truthful many. One of the bully ones done and through."

Newman was besides a full-time firefighter and continued to enactment portion filming the deed US drama, which ran from 1989 to 1999. The histrion besides starred successful a fig of Baywatch spin-offs, including Baywatch Hawaii, Baywatch: White Thunder At Glacier Bay, and Baywatch Nights.

Similarly, helium appeared successful the 1999 movie Enemy Action with C Thomas Howell and Louis Mandylor. He spent his second years moving with the Michael J Fox Foundation to assistance find a cure for Parkinson's.