Malibu safeguards star Mike Newman opens up about his 16-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
The retired actor, who played lifeguard Mike “Newmie” Newman in more than 150 episodes of the hit action series, tells PEOPLE he was diagnosed with the disorder in 2006 after his family advised him to seek medical help when they noticed he was becoming move more. slowly. His doctor then prescribed Newman medication to relieve his symptoms and later revealed his diagnosis.
“Things are changing,” Newman told the publication. “All those things you thought you were going to do with your kids and grandkids, the pictures we were going to take, all the plans I had… stopped.”
Pearson All-American Television/Courtesy: Everett Collection Mike Newman in the series “Baywatch”
The former firefighter will open up about his diagnosis in an upcoming four-part docuseries about the series called Baywatch: American Dream. Newman admitted that he was hesitant at first because he didn’t want fans to remember him as “the guy with Parkinson’s,” but director Matt Felker eventually changed his mind. Since then, the couple has developed a strong friendship.
Newman, who has led an active lifestyle his entire life and even worked as a lifeguard before starring in the series. Malibu safeguards, said he continues to live a healthy lifestyle to manage his symptoms. He exercises for at least 45 minutes every day, often by swimming, kayaking or jogging on the beach.
“I trained for this,” Newman explained. “Someone who was 65 years old and not very athletic, if they found out they had Parkinson’s, that wouldn’t turn out well either. I think I beat them all, if we could call it a ‘victory’.”
Still, he called the disease “ominous,” noting that its symptoms “progress so slowly that you barely notice them changing.” As part of his involvement in the docuseries, the project will work alongside the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Cedars-Sinai to raise funds for those fighting the same battle. “It probably won’t help me,” Newman said. “But it will help someone in the future.”
By sharing his diagnosis, Newman hopes his story will bring comfort to others. While he admitted there were “a lot of things” he would have done differently, Newman said he was grateful for all the people he met and the experiences he had from being on the show. Malibu safeguards.
“Where would I be without him?” He said. “Well, I guess it would be a boring life.”
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