Academy award winner Paul Newman, one of American cinema's most iconic actors, died Friday at his home in Westport, Conn. after a long battle with cancer. He was 83.
One of Hollywood's coolest customers, Newman shot to fame in the 1960s, with his classic good looks and a propensity for roles that required a streak of hip anti-authority. He starred in a number of classic films, including Cool Hand Luke (100 percent on the Tomatometer), Harper (100 percent), The Hustler (97 percent), The Verdict (96 percent), The Sting (93 percent), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (92 percent), and The Color of Money, for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor.
Born in Shaker Heights, OH, Newman served in World War II in the Pacific. After the war, he turned to acting, attending Yale and studying under Lee Stasbourg in the Actor's Studio in New York. He made his big screen debut in The Silver Chalice (20 percent), a forgettable Biblical epic, but soon made his name in Somebody Up There Likes Me (78 percent) and the Tennessee Williams adaptation Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (100 percent), which co-starred Elizabeth Taylor.
Newman continued to give excellent performances into his August years; he starred alongside Tom Hanks in 2002's The Road to Perdition (82 percent) and the made-for-cable series Empire Falls, for which he was honored with an Emmy and a Golden Globe. In his last credits, Newman provided the voice of an aging motor sports champion in Pixar's Cars (75 percent) and narrated The Price of Sugar (75 percent), a documentary on poverty in the Dominican Republic.
In addition to his work in film, Newman was known for his philanthropy. Newman's Own, a company he co-founded in 1982, produced lemonade, pasta sauces, salad dressings, and salsas, among other products, donates 100 percent of its profits to charitable causes.
Newman is survived by his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, as well as five children and eight grandchildren.
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theletterseven writes: on Sep 27 2008 11:26 AM :( (Reply to this) |
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sunsaz writes: on Sep 27 2008 11:29 AM Here I was trying to avoid bad news this weekend and something like this comes along. *sigh* RIP, Paul. (Reply to this) |
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dracus writes: on Sep 27 2008 11:48 AM Newman was the defintion of cool. Even as he was dying he gave away his most prized race cars to his life long friends and thanked them for always being there for him. Can't get much cooler than that. (Reply to this) |
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dahluzz writes: on Sep 27 2008 12:23 PM just heard about this from my roommate. one of the greatest actors of all time is gone now. and he will be missed. how could you not love this guy? from classic roles in movies like butch cassidy, the sting, cool hand luke, the hustler and the color of money, the list of iconic characters goes on, to his philanthropic work through newman's own (and those are some high quality products, too), he was a legendary public figure. thanks for a life of great work, paul newman. (Reply to this) |
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ZiGyStRdUsT writes: on Sep 27 2008 12:55 PM Paul Newman was one of my favorite actors. I'm saddened that I never got to meet him. (Reply to this) |
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jpbresnihan writes: on Sep 27 2008 01:04 PM slap shot all the way. RIP (Reply to this) |
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jason913 writes: on Sep 27 2008 01:26 PM Aww... Everyone cool's dying these days, Bernie Mac, Bill Melendez, etc. ): (Reply to this) |
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blinkybrown writes: on Sep 27 2008 01:33 PM He was a great man...both on screen and off. RIP. (Reply to this) |
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vaodsi writes: on Sep 27 2008 01:36 PM A legend has died... but he is immortal in film.... a true genius. RIP. (Reply to this) |
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predemption writes: on Sep 27 2008 01:39 PM he was a great actor and human being RIP (Reply to this) |
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wexy writes: on Sep 27 2008 01:50 PM A great actor and a great humanitarian. Rest In Peace. (Reply to this) |
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willpower writes: on Sep 27 2008 02:20 PM He was the best. God, what a rough year for Hollywood guys we are having! Heath Ledger, Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac, George Carlin, now Newman? Crapola! (Reply to this) |
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unbreakable_samurai writes: on Sep 27 2008 02:37 PM Yeah there are others to willpower, this is the worst year I remember for deaths. He was a great man and actor, this is a true blow to the heart of all movie fans. And even his final film was d amn good(Road to Perdition). That is pretty d amn cool dracus. May he be remembered for all time, RIP. (Reply to this) |
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smartmoviekid writes: on Sep 27 2008 03:16 PM truely a master of his craft, and as excellent a human being as i have heard from an actor..truely a sad day in hollywood. Road to Perdition was one of my favorite films growing up, as i also immensly enjoyed The Sting, Butch Cassidy, and the Verdict. (Reply to this) |
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Dachshund96 writes: on Sep 27 2008 03:20 PM I didn't like any of his movies but I respect what he did and the contribution he made to charity. (Reply to this) |
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CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes: on Sep 27 2008 03:36 PM Mr. Paul Newman was the definiton of what makes a Hollywood legend so remarkable. His works are some of the best films ever made and if anyone could make a person beleive in the idea of heroes, its Paul Newman. The works he conributed in charity exceeded 220 million and he won several national racing championships. My deepest sympathies to his wife of fifty years, Joanne Woodward. God Bless the rest of Newman's family as well. R.I.P. PAUL NEWMAN (Reply to this) |
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BrattyJenn writes: on Sep 27 2008 03:42 PM I always wondered how I would respond to this day....I always thought when Paul Newman died, it also meant the death of relatives that I am not ready to let go of. I loved Paul Newman like a member of my own family. I watch "Nobody's Fool" semi-annually, usually in Autumn, Thanksgiving, before Christmas. It is my favorite winter movie and always will be. It has a wonderful de-stressing effect on me. Paul Newman will be missed. Not only is his death a great loss, it also represents the loss of innocence and immortality. He will always be alive in our hearts. (Reply to this) |
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kaike_67 writes: on Sep 27 2008 03:53 PM It's always sad when a genuinely good human being passes away, especially one who happens to be such a fantastically talented performer. RIP. (Reply to this) |
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Searchers writes: on Sep 27 2008 04:36 PM An actors, actor, A natural born worldshaker! "I don't care if it's dark or scary Long as I have magnetic Mary Ridin' on the dashboard of my car" I feel like a old dear friend has moved on. Rest in Peace Paul Newman. (Reply to this) |
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indiefilmfan2 writes: on Sep 27 2008 04:58 PM Simply a legend. You know you were a great actor when one of your lesser performances is in a Hitchcock film. He and McQueen were probably the coolest actors of their time or any time for that matter. (Reply to this) |
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