Former “Baywatch” star Mike Newman is opening up about his 16-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
The 66-year-old retired actor, who played lifeguard Mike ‘Newmie’ Newman on the hit NBC motion series, told People Magazine that he first received his diagnosis in 2006 when family and commenced noticing changes in his movements and asked him to seek the advice of a health care provider.
Newman recalled that he was prescribed a medicine that treats the symptoms of Parkinson’s and was later diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder.
“The whole lot changes,” the previous firefighter said. “All those things that you just thought you were going to do together with your children and grandchildren, pictures we were going to take, all of the plans I had… stopped.”
Newman appeared on 150 episodes of “Baywatch” from 1989 to 2000 but stepped away from Hollywood after concluding his run on the show.
“In case you didn’t must be there, why would you be?” he joked to People.
Nonetheless, Newman is about to return to the small screen for the four-part docuseries “Baywatch: The American Dream,” wherein he’ll detail his diagnosis and life with Parkinsons.
“In case you didn’t must be there, why would you be?” he joked to People.
Nonetheless, Newman is about to return to the small screen for the four-part docuseries “Baywatch: The American Dream,” wherein he’ll detail his diagnosis and life with Parkinsons.
Newman told Those that he was initially reluctant to debate his disorder within the docuseries since he didn’t wish to be generally known as “the guy with Parkinson’s.” He said that he decided to share his story after spending time with the series’ director Matt Felker, with whom he has developed an in depth friendship.
“Baywatch: The American Dream,” which also features interviews with former forged members Pamela Anderson, David Hasselhoff and Jason Momoa, will take an in-depth take a look at the long-running TV phenomenon and its lasting cultural impact.
In his interview with People, Newman recalled how his real-life experience as a lifeguard helped him regularly earn a bigger role on the show.
He remembered providing advice on water rescue scenes to the show’s writers in exchange for more speaking lines and volunteering to perform stunts that others couldn’t pull off.
“I used to be too useful for them to eliminate me,” Newman said with amusing. “I principally began off as a stuntman, and after seven years of being out of the opening credits, I finally was anointed and allowed to be within the front of the show.”
Newman explained that he has remained energetic and exercises for 45 minutes daily, which he said was the “best treatment” for Parkinson’s. He told the outlet that his routine includes swimming, kayaking and running on the beach.
“I’ve been training for this,” he said “Any person that was 65 and never very athletic, in the event that they got the news that they got Parkinson’s, it wouldn’t prove as well. I got all of them beat, I suppose, if we could call it ‘beat.’”
Nonetheless, Newman described Parkinson’s as a “sinister” disease, adding that the symptoms “march forward so slowly that you just barely notice that they’re changing.”
“It’s a slow burn,” he said. “Parkinson’s disease doesn’t wait for you. It keeps on plowing in.”
Newman told Those that he agreed to take part in the docuseries with the condition that the production team will work with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Cedars-Sinai to boost funds for others combating Parkinson’s.
“This may occasionally not help me,” he said. “But it surely’s going to assist someone down the road.”
The California native said that he hoped sharing his experience with Parkinson’s within the docuseries will comfort and encourage other people who find themselves battling the disease.
While Newman said that there are “a number of things” that he would have done “otherwise” in his life, he expressed his gratitude for his family, the “good people” that he met during his profession and the experiences that he had during his years starring on “Baywatch.”
“Where would I be without it?” he said of “Baywatch.” “Well, it might’ve been sort of a boring life, I suppose.”
Former “Baywatch” star Mike Newman is opening up about his 16-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
The 66-year-old retired actor, who played lifeguard Mike ‘Newmie’ Newman on the hit NBC motion series, told People Magazine that he first received his diagnosis in 2006 when family and commenced noticing changes in his movements and asked him to seek the advice of a health care provider.
Newman recalled that he was prescribed a medicine that treats the symptoms of Parkinson’s and was later diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder.
“The whole lot changes,” the previous firefighter said. “All those things that you just thought you were going to do together with your children and grandchildren, pictures we were going to take, all of the plans I had… stopped.”
Newman appeared on 150 episodes of “Baywatch” from 1989 to 2000 but stepped away from Hollywood after concluding his run on the show.
“In case you didn’t must be there, why would you be?” he joked to People.
Nonetheless, Newman is about to return to the small screen for the four-part docuseries “Baywatch: The American Dream,” wherein he’ll detail his diagnosis and life with Parkinsons.
“In case you didn’t must be there, why would you be?” he joked to People.
Nonetheless, Newman is about to return to the small screen for the four-part docuseries “Baywatch: The American Dream,” wherein he’ll detail his diagnosis and life with Parkinsons.
Newman told Those that he was initially reluctant to debate his disorder within the docuseries since he didn’t wish to be generally known as “the guy with Parkinson’s.” He said that he decided to share his story after spending time with the series’ director Matt Felker, with whom he has developed an in depth friendship.
“Baywatch: The American Dream,” which also features interviews with former forged members Pamela Anderson, David Hasselhoff and Jason Momoa, will take an in-depth take a look at the long-running TV phenomenon and its lasting cultural impact.
In his interview with People, Newman recalled how his real-life experience as a lifeguard helped him regularly earn a bigger role on the show.
He remembered providing advice on water rescue scenes to the show’s writers in exchange for more speaking lines and volunteering to perform stunts that others couldn’t pull off.
“I used to be too useful for them to eliminate me,” Newman said with amusing. “I principally began off as a stuntman, and after seven years of being out of the opening credits, I finally was anointed and allowed to be within the front of the show.”
Newman explained that he has remained energetic and exercises for 45 minutes daily, which he said was the “best treatment” for Parkinson’s. He told the outlet that his routine includes swimming, kayaking and running on the beach.
“I’ve been training for this,” he said “Any person that was 65 and never very athletic, in the event that they got the news that they got Parkinson’s, it wouldn’t prove as well. I got all of them beat, I suppose, if we could call it ‘beat.’”
Nonetheless, Newman described Parkinson’s as a “sinister” disease, adding that the symptoms “march forward so slowly that you just barely notice that they’re changing.”
“It’s a slow burn,” he said. “Parkinson’s disease doesn’t wait for you. It keeps on plowing in.”
Newman told Those that he agreed to take part in the docuseries with the condition that the production team will work with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Cedars-Sinai to boost funds for others combating Parkinson’s.
“This may occasionally not help me,” he said. “But it surely’s going to assist someone down the road.”
The California native said that he hoped sharing his experience with Parkinson’s within the docuseries will comfort and encourage other people who find themselves battling the disease.
While Newman said that there are “a number of things” that he would have done “otherwise” in his life, he expressed his gratitude for his family, the “good people” that he met during his profession and the experiences that he had during his years starring on “Baywatch.”
“Where would I be without it?” he said of “Baywatch.” “Well, it might’ve been sort of a boring life, I suppose.”
