Birth Name: Michael Newman
Nickname: Newmy (Also spelled Newmie)
Birthdate: April
26, 1957
Birthplace: Pacific Palisades, California
Current Residence: Los
Angeles, California
Marital Status: Married/Sarah (Married 1987-Present)
Hair/Eyes: Brown/Brown
Height/weight: 6
feet, 5 inches tall/N/A
Heritage: American/Decent N/A
Education: College/University
of California at Santa Barara/Advertising Major
Parents: Mother N/A/Father N/A
Children: 2;
Chris and Emily
Siblings: 1 older brother
Showbusiness start: When
longtime pal Greg Bonann promised him work on the Baywatch pilot if it proved successful. Not only was he given a part,
he also acted as technical advisor and did all of his own stunts.
Hobbies/Interests: Environmental
Issues, Lifeguarding, Lifeguard Competitions, Serves as a Firefighter
Michael Newman was born in Pacific Palisades, California. He started his career as
a lifeguard at the age of 10, when he served as a Santa Monica Junor Lifeguard. At age 11, Michael met Greg Bonann,
who was then 16 and was on Palisades High School swim team. Michael displayed excellent swimming ablilty, which helped
him to excel at water sports. Michael later attended Pacific Palisades High School. He was a real water athlete and used his
talents as a member of the school's swimming and water polo teams. Michael achieved All-American status, a member
of a national record-setting relay team.
Michael was also a real California Surfer Boy while in high school and would spend weekends and
summers on the road, traveling up and down the coast from Mexico to Santa Cruz in his Volkswagen van, searching for the best
waves. He also liked skin-diving and skateboarding.
Michael continued his education by attending college at the University of California at
Santa Barbara, which had a reputation as a real surfer school. Michael majored in Advertising. Michael's older brother was
a Los Angeles County Lifeguard. At the age of 19, Michael followed in his brother's footsteps by starting an intense swimming
workout routine twice a day to ensure a place in the training process. He put himself through college working as a seasonal
L.A. Conunty lifeguard. Michael was a member of the swimming team in college, and won All
American status for four years straight. Michael remained undefeated in the 200m in his senior year. Swimming competitively
enabled Michael to meet his future wife Sarah, as she was also on the swim team. The couple later married and had two
children.
After graduation, Michael worked in advertising as a publisher's representative
for four years. He realized that life was too short to work in a job like advertising after his mother died. He quit and went
back to the beach.
Michael took the Los Angeles Firefighter's exam while waiting to get hired as a full-time lifeguard.
He adapted quickly and found similarities between firefighting and lifeguarding. He passed the exam and went to work there
as well.
He and Greg Bonann worked beaches and towers together and became very close friends. Greg
had an idea for a show about lifeguards. At the end of the long day of rescues at Will Rodgers Beach complete with fights,
purse stealers and car break-ins, they would put their feet up on the rail. Greg leaned toward him and said, "If
a show like CHiPS can be so popular, why couldn't we make a show about what we do down here?"
Michael agreed.
The show's idea had a chance to become a reality when Greg rescued the 13-year old
son of TV Executive Stu Erwin in Santa Monica. The boy would have died if not for Greg. When the grateful Erwin
asked Greg how he could repay him, Greg's request was that he wanted to discuss his idea for a show with him. Erwin led
him through the procedure of getting his show on a network. Greg promised Michael work on the pilot if it proved
successful. It lead to NBC's airing of the TV series Baywatch. The show was cancelled by NBC after one season.
But not giving up on the idea however, later proved the show a successful phenomenon. Greg, David Hasselhoff,
the show's star and one of the Executive Producers got together with others associated with Baywatch to
get foreign backers. Douglas Schwartz bought the rights back for $10 and the show was placed in syndication in 1991. Baywatch
garnered 1 billion weekly viewers in over 144 countries.
Michael started out as a recurring character, using his own name. His popular character made
him famous. He was later added as a series regular. MIchael was a lifeguard and did all of his own stunts as well
as acted as technical advisor.
When the show made its 10th season move to Hawaii, Michael was one of the few actors who was
kept on the show. Most of the other actors had to be Hawaiian. Moving to Hawaii was pleasant for Michael. He was a surfer
and got to work in what was known as real surf and waves. But he worried about the affects of the show's
success on losing the closeness he once had with Greg. Greg is godfather
to Michael's brother's children. Michael had to leave a lot of close friends at home when he moved to Hawaii for the show.
He realized that Baywatch Hawaii was Greg's show and what he said was done. He missed those days in the tower
placing their feet on the rail, talking about the day and where to go for an after work beer.
Michael had served as a Los Angeles County lifeguard for over 20 years. He currently
works for the Los Angeles Fire Department.