A legendary publicist who was responsible for building Baywatch into one of television’s most iconic series has pᴀssed away.

Paul Nichols died at his home in Weatherford, Texas, on March 14 aged 77.

No cause of death has yet been disclosed.

The news was shared by his family on Wednesday.

He died only 12 days after his wife of 31 years, Linda, pᴀssed away, making it a double tragedy for the Nichols family.

Nichols was a publicist working at The Lippen Group in 1991 and worked tirelessly to stop the show from being cancelled and instead become syndicated globally.

The series went on to become a powerhouse money-maker, generating $70million and attracting a weekly audience of 1.1 billion in 142 countries at its peak.

Baywatch aired from 1989 until 2001 with 241 episodes in all. The beach drama starred David Hᴀsselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth and Nicole Eggert.

A iconic figure behind the Baywatch TV series has pᴀssed away at t he age of 77. Here are Yasmine Bleeth, David Charvet, Jaason Simmons, David Hᴀsselhoff, Pamela Anderson and Alexandra Paul

The legendary show’s publicist Paul Nichols died at his home in Weatherford, Texas, on March 14

The show focused on Lt. Mitch Buchannon (Hᴀsselhoff),  who was the dedicated leader of a group of lifeguards on Malibu Beach in Los Angeles.

Although this prime-time soap opera featured a lot of sand, sun and ʙικιɴιs, it also tackled many serious themes and had multifaceted characters.

There was also a Baywatch movie made in 2017, starring The Rock and Priyanka Chopra.

Paul was born in Delaware in 1948 and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism from Penn State University in 1970.

He started out as a DJ then went into showbusiness.

His first big job was on the talk show The Mike Douglas Show, based in Philadelphia. 

In 1980, he relocated to California to work for John Davidson, Douglas’ talk-show successor.

He also was employed at Group W, All American Television and Sony Pictures Television.

Paul was a publicist working at The Lippen Group in 1991 when he helped to stop the show from being cancelled 

The series went on to become a powerhouse money-maker. Baywatch aired from 1989 until 2001 with 241 episodes in all. The beach-set drama starred David Hᴀsselhoff and Pamela Anderson, both pictured

It comes after Baywatch actor Michael Newman died at the age of 68 in October. 

He was best known for his role as lifeguard Mike ‘Newmie’ Newman on the hit TV series.

The actor also starred on Baywatch Nights for three episodes in 1996. 

Newman pᴀssed away due to complications related to Parkinson’s Disease, according to PageSix. He was first diagnosed with the disease in 2006 at the age of 50.

Newman was the only Baywatch actor who had worked as a lifeguard in real life. 

In October Michael Newman died at the age of 68. He was best known for his role as a lifeguard on the hit TV series Baywatch  

Michael is picured center at top, just above David Hᴀsselhoff

He appeared on 150 episodes of the show, which was the most appearances of any character, with the exception of main star David Hᴀsselhoff.

The actor was also working as a full-time firefighter while starring on Baywatch. 

His struggle with Parkinson’s disease was mentioned on the recent documentary After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun.

‘This terminal disease has allowed me a lot of thinking time, which I maybe didn’t want, but it’s brought me wisdom,’ Newman told People in August.

‘My body has changed so slowly that I hardly notice it, yet I am constantly reminded that Parkinson’s has now become the center of my life,’ he added.

He appeared on 150 episodes of the show, which was the most appearances of any character, with the exception of main star David Hᴀsselhoff

Newman also said, ‘I am cherishing the days that I get to be on this earth with family and friends. I’m taking life seriously.’ 

He shared that the words he lives by are, ‘It’s not a run-through.’

Michael’s Baywatch alter ego Newmie was based on himself as he was a lifeguard in real life.

The actor wasn’t intended to star on the show and was first employed as a stuntman, but he eventually got to be right at the heart of the action.

‘I was too useful for them to get rid of me,’ he said.

‘I basically started off as a stuntman, and after seven years of being out of the opening credits, I finally was anointed and allowed to be in the front of the show.’

After his stint on Baywatch, Michael retired from acting because he found it ‘hard’ to ‘look natural’ on camera. He explained: ‘If you didn’t have to be there, why would you be? Let’s be honest … there’s not too many actors that have survived the years of working in Hollywood.’

He admitted there are negative sides to the industry that led to his exit.

Newman attending the premiere of After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun in August

Douglas Schwartz, Michael Berk, Ingrid Walter, Carmen Electra, Matthew Felker, Jeremy Jackson, Nancy Valen, Michael Bergin, Brandy Ledford, Michael Newman, Erika Eleniak, Alexandra Paul, Jaason Simmons, Nicole Eggert, Traci Bingham and David Chokachi 

Michael said: ‘Having to deal with the people who scratch your name out on the script and put their name on there? That kind of thing … you never get used to that.’

Michael is survived by his wife, Sarah, their son Chris and daughter Emily, as well as granddaughter Charlie.

Newman appeared in the 1999 movie Enemy Action with co-stars C Thomas Howell and Louis Mandylor.

The thriller was about two Air Force officers who are after a stolen high-tech smart bomb.