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September 27, 2008
Actor Paul Newman Dies at 83
Newman, who had been battling cancer, passed away on Friday, at his home, Newman's Own Foundation said in a statement from Westport, Connecticut.
Newman was half of one of the most successful showbiz marriages -- to Joanne Woodward, whom he married in 1958. He observed that just because he was a sex symbol there was no reason to commit adultery.
"Why would I go out for a hamburger when [I] have steak at home?" he asked.
Newman's daughters said described him as a devoted husband, a loving father, an adoring grandfather and a dedicated philanthropist.
"Our father was a rare symbol of selfless humility, the last to acknowledge what he was doing was special," they said in a statement. "Intensely private, he quietly succeeded beyond measure in impacting the lives of so many with his generosity.
"Always and to the end, Dad was incredibly grateful for his good fortune. In his own words: 'It's been a privilege to be here.'"
Paul Leonard Newman was born on January 26, 1925, in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. His father owned a successful sporting goods store, but young Paul was taken with his mother's and uncle's interest in the arts and started acting while still in grade school.
"I wasn't running toward the theater but running away from the sporting goods store," he said later.
In recent years, Newman talked about doing another film with his friend Redford, but the two couldn't settle on a script. In 2007, Newman said he was retiring from acting, saying he'd lost confidence in his abilities. Still, he marveled at his own resilience.
"You can't be as old as I am without waking up with a surprised look on your face every morning: 'Holy Christ, whaddya know - I'm still around!' It's absolutely amazing that I survived all the booze and smoking and the cars and the career."
The Verdict - ( 1981)
Hud - An Unprincipled Man
From the movie The Hustler (1961) this scene is the final game
Paul Newman enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan 22, 1943, having attended college at Ohio U., in Athens. Sent to the Navy's V-12 program to become a pilot, they found he was color blind. So he was made into a radioman , where he qualified as a radioman/gunner in the TBM "Avenger" torpedo bomber, and was sent to the Pacific. While there, his pilot took ill, and Newman was grounded while his squadron suffered heavy losses during a kamikaze attack on his carrier. Operating off the Hollandia, Newman was about 500 miles from the explosion at Hiroshima, then was discharged the following January. He received the American Area Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He attended acting school at Kenyon College on the G.I. Bill.
Wild Thing's comment............
He may well be a diehard liberal but he could sure act and drive a race car. He was one of the great in regards to acting and picked well on is movie choices to act in and be a part of .
His politics were not mine, but he did things well, including living far from Hollywood, staying married to the same woman for 50 years, raising a family that’s by show biz standards pretty normal, creating a real business (then giving profits to charities).
Posted by Wild Thing at September 27, 2008 01:34 PM
Comments
yep, he was a big liberal, but that has never stopped me from liking his abilities. I have to appreciate his philanthropic works and that he made his marriage to Joanne Woodward work in a time and place when divorce runs rampant over miniscule items.
He was a fine actor with a heart of gold. His Hole in the Wall camp for children was ahead of it's time and his food was pretty good too.
I think the song, "Awake" by Josh Groban talks about how Paul Newman was as a person. He will be missed, but Thanks to the glory of television and the movies, we have his legacy to love.
Posted by: Lynn at September 27, 2008 02:00 PM
His politics were appalling, but he was a good family man in a profession where temptations are rife. That's rare.
Posted by: Trish at September 27, 2008 03:14 PM
Lynn, I agree!! Well said my friend.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 27, 2008 04:24 PM
Trish yes he was he was a good husband and father.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 27, 2008 04:26 PM
He made good spaghetti sauce. and ... I really like Jackie Gleason in that one. Yes, WT he was a good actor(period). One thing he was true to his own beliefs and that is huge. Especially when you look a Ferrel and Asner. Paul Newman was one of a kind.
Posted by: Mark at September 27, 2008 04:27 PM
SLAPSHOT and COOL HAND LUKE..."The Hansons brought their F'N TOYS!" Never forget that car wash in front of the chain gand by LUCILLE! What a big time GREAT actor Paul was. We're getting older WT!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at September 27, 2008 04:54 PM
Darth, yes we are, we are losing so many of the great actors.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 27, 2008 05:33 PM
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid:
we gotta get the rules set and POW he kicks the big guy right square in the ****!
Best Paul Newman scene ever!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: GM Cassel AMH1(AW) USN RETIRED at September 27, 2008 06:14 PM
Paul Newman and I did not share political beliefs, but I admire his honesty, humility and charitable efforts. He was so different from the overbearing egotism that has ruled Hollywood for the last 30 years. His lasting marriage and low profile are admirable.
I did not know he was a WWII vet.
I liked most of his movies, especially Hud, Cool Hand Luke and Exodus. RIP Mr Newman.
Posted by: TomR at September 27, 2008 07:05 PM
Mark, I agree, and those two Ferrel and Asner are so horrible. They attack people personally to try and make their commie point and Paul Newman never did that kind of thing.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 27, 2008 07:39 PM
GM Cassel AMH1(AW) USN RETIRED, ( big smile) I liked that movie a lot.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 27, 2008 07:41 PM
Tom, those were good movies. And I agree with you too about the difference in his political beliefs compared to all of ours on here.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 27, 2008 07:48 PM
Yes, he was very liberal, but an honest one.
He refused to sign autographs because somebody once asked him for one--- at a urinal.
My only beef is that one of his "charities" was the Sierra Club.
He'll be missed.
Posted by: melt at September 27, 2008 08:19 PM
Mark--
I disagree with you. I think he made bloody awful spaghetti sauce. Even though it was supposed to be low salt, it tasted so salty that my entire family found it inedible.
He was a class act, though.
Posted by: Trish at September 27, 2008 08:19 PM
"Hombre" 1967 one of his best!!
"Along with Cool Hand"
Posted by: Tincan Sailor at September 27, 2008 08:20 PM
Melt, Hi good to see you. I agree, and guess what, I had a chance to tell the Sierra Club off and I took it. hahaha It felt so good. How they got my phone number I have no idea, but they called our home and as soon as I found out it was the Sierra Club I really laid in to the person calling. haha That made my day. heh heh
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 28, 2008 12:03 AM
Tincan Sailor, yes those are such good ones.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 28, 2008 12:04 AM
