Paul Newman Remembered

Written by: Samuel K. Sloan (FarPoint Media News Director)

Paul Newman, (a.k.a “PL” by friends) one of Hollywood’s originals, a maverick, a rebel and one helluva fine actor has died at the age of 83 after his quiet battle with cancer.

Newman, a World War II Navy veteran with those penetrating, startling, crisp blue eyes, burst on the stage and film scene over six decades ago, starring in 50 films and several Broadway productions. While that may not seem like a lot for someone who has been entertaining people for 60 years, the difference between his movies and those done by other actors who may have been performing for as long is that every one of Newman’s movies are memorable, and ones that will not soon be forgotten. Here is just a short list of some of those movies that continue bringing new generations of film watchers great joy:

“Cool Hand Luke,” Paul and Robert Redford starring in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, “The Hustler” with the great-one Jackie Gleason, “The Sting”, again with Redford, “Cat on the Hot Tin Roof” with Elizabeth Taylor, “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” the Alfred Hitchcock spy thriller “Torn Curtain” with Julie Andrews, and so many many more great memories on film. He even starred in a futuristic SF movie — the Robert Altman film “Quintet,” which this writer still considers one of the Newman’s best and most critically underrated films. Of course, like all actors, he also had at least one stinker, in Newman’s case it has to be the 1980 disaster film “When Time Ran Out.”

Newman was the recipient of nine Oscar nominations and won the Academy Award for Best Actor in the 1986 film “The Color of Money,” in which he starred with Tom Cruise in a continuation of the role of Fast Eddie Felson that he created in “The Hustler” 25 years earlier.

Newman began slowing down his acting career in the 90’s, concentrating on his Newman’s Own Foundation which has given over a quarter of a billion dollars to several charitable organizations over the years, as well as his Hole-in-the-Wall Camps that provide summer vacations for children with serious physical and emotional illnesses. Every time someone buys one of Newman’s Own salad dressings or other products in the grocery store, they are helping “PL” reach out to those most in need. He may have slowed down in Hollywood, but Newman continued with his first love – driving in auto racing championships almost until the end.

In 2000 Newman began performing more regularly again, particularly doing voice work for such films as “Cars” and “Mater and the Ghostlight” and Tom Hank’s co-written Moon documentary “Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D.” His voice work on the 2006 “Mater and the Ghostlight” would be the last for Paul.

The world has lost one of its greatest actors, race car drivers, charity worker/organizers and human beings with the passing of this giant called Paul Newman. He is survived by his actress wife of 50+ years Joanne Woodward, five daughters, two grandsons, and his older brother, Arthur.