Paul Newman ~ 1925 - 2008.
~*~
I knew this day was coming as soon as I read Paul Newman had cancer. But I’d been putting it off in my mind. Now that it’s come, I’m glad I saved a lot of pictures of him.
I still haven’t seen all of Paul Newman’s films, he’s made so many, but some of them I’ve seen over and over. I loved him in the gritty Hud (1963) and the Tennessee Williams-based films, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Sweet Bird of youth (1962). I laughed at him in comedies like Rally Round the Flag, Boys! (1958) and A New Kind of Love, (1963) and cried over him in Cool Hand Luke (1977). The films from the 50’s I first saw on TV as a teenager, but I've re-watched them on tape and DVD over the years, and my appreciation has only grown. Some have become personal favourites. I’ve re-watched The Long Hot Summer (1958) so many times (his first picture with Joanne Woodward-what a great pair), I bought my own copy of the DVD to save myself rental fees.
I admired Paul Newman as an actor, but also appreciated him as a man. When I was a teenager, I thought he was too old to get a crush on; "he's almost my parents' age!" But when I grew up, I could see what a sexy man he was. No wonder my older sister was so smitten with him.
But Paul Newman has always been more than a sex symbol, since his appeal was grounded not just in great looks but a great personality. I loved his intelligence and wit, his blue eyes twinkling with merriment or mischief. And I loved his sexy-cool aura, once I was old enough to appreciate it, when those blue eyes could burn and bore a hole through the screen, straight into my consciousness.
In almost all his roles, there was an emotional passion that simmered just under the surface. Whether that surface was one of macho bravado, or a hard-edged utilitarianism, there was a sense of emotional reserves held in check. His best film scenes always allowed that reserve to be stripped away, letting the core emotionality emerge. Whether violent or vulnerable or tender or intense, it was always true.
So, here is a little picspam to celebrate his life. I hope the fans among you will enjoy it.
Paul Newman
January 26, 1925 - September 26, 2008
Undated, but I am guessing 1960, on-set for "Exodus".
Publicity still for "Hud", 1963. Newman was 38.
Newman with Brandon de Wilde in “Hud”.
Another still from “Hud”.
I am not sure which film this comes from. The belt loaded with rounds ought to be a clue. Whatever it comes from, wow.
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in 1963.
Directing “Rachel, Rachel,” 1968.
Paul Newman with Joanne Woodward in Westport, Ct, date not given.
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, 1969, with Katharine Ross and Robert Redford.
With Redford in image used for DVD cover.
At Cannes with Joanne Woodward in 1987; he was 62:
Solo shot at Cannes:
Still a beautiful man at 76, this portrait was taken in 2001:
For those who’d like to know more, below is a copy and paste of an article that just appeared in The Guardian.com.uk, September 27, 2008, by Jenny Percival.
This quote most struck me:
"Paul had an abiding belief in the role that luck plays in one's life, and its randomness. He was quick to acknowledge the good fortune he had in his own life, beginning with being born in America, and was acutely aware of how unlucky so many others were. True to his character, he quietly devoted himself to helping offset this imbalance."
Paul Newman dies at 83
The screen legend Paul Newman has died at the age of 83 after losing a long battle against cancer.
Newman died yesterday at his farmhouse near Westport, Connecticut, said his publicist, Jeff Sanderson. He was surrounded by family and close friends.
Newman was nominated for an Oscar 10 times, winning a best actor trophy in 1987 for The Colour Of Money. The actor with the piercing blue eyes is best known for his leading roles in The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke and for playing opposite longtime friend Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
In May 2007 he said he was giving up acting. "I'm not able to work anymore ... at the level that I would want to," he told the US broadcaster ABC.
Newman initially tried to play down concerns about his health after reports that he was having cancer treatment in New York. This year he pulled out of directing a Connecticut stage production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men because of unspecified health problems.
AE Hotchner, who helped create the successful Newman's Own food company in 1982, confirmed in June that the actor had been ill for 18 months. "It's a form of cancer, and he's dealing with it. Paul is a fighter," Hotchner told the Associated Press.
All proceeds from Newman's Own salad dressings and snacks go to charity, and the actor became a leading advocate for corporate philanthropy. Fox news reported this week that Newman gave away $120m in 2005 and 2006.
The vice-chairman of Newman's Own Foundation, Robert Forrester, today praised the Hollywood star's dedication to charity work.
"Paul Newman's craft was acting. His passion was racing. His love was his family and friends. And his heart and soul were dedicated to helping make the world a better place for all," Forrester said.
"Paul had an abiding belief in the role that luck plays in one's life, and its randomness. He was quick to acknowledge the good fortune he had in his own life, beginning with being born in America, and was acutely aware of how unlucky so many others were. True to his character, he quietly devoted himself to helping offset this imbalance."
Forrester said Newman's Own went from being "something of a joke" to a highly respected food company bringing in millions of dollars a year and with profits of $250 million to date going to charity.
Twenty years ago, Newman created the Hole in the Wall holiday camps for children with life-threatening conditions. More than 135,000 children have attended the camps.
Forrester said: "Paul took advantage of what life offered him, and while personally reluctant to acknowledge that he was doing anything special, he forever changed the lives of many with his generosity, humour and humanness. His legacy lives on in the charities he supported and the Hole in the Wall camps, for which he cared so much.
"We will miss our friend Paul Newman, but are lucky ourselves to have known such a remarkable person."
Wikipedia's article on Paul Newman here.
I knew this day was coming as soon as I read Paul Newman had cancer. But I’d been putting it off in my mind. Now that it’s come, I’m glad I saved a lot of pictures of him.
I still haven’t seen all of Paul Newman’s films, he’s made so many, but some of them I’ve seen over and over. I loved him in the gritty Hud (1963) and the Tennessee Williams-based films, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Sweet Bird of youth (1962). I laughed at him in comedies like Rally Round the Flag, Boys! (1958) and A New Kind of Love, (1963) and cried over him in Cool Hand Luke (1977). The films from the 50’s I first saw on TV as a teenager, but I've re-watched them on tape and DVD over the years, and my appreciation has only grown. Some have become personal favourites. I’ve re-watched The Long Hot Summer (1958) so many times (his first picture with Joanne Woodward-what a great pair), I bought my own copy of the DVD to save myself rental fees.
I admired Paul Newman as an actor, but also appreciated him as a man. When I was a teenager, I thought he was too old to get a crush on; "he's almost my parents' age!" But when I grew up, I could see what a sexy man he was. No wonder my older sister was so smitten with him.
But Paul Newman has always been more than a sex symbol, since his appeal was grounded not just in great looks but a great personality. I loved his intelligence and wit, his blue eyes twinkling with merriment or mischief. And I loved his sexy-cool aura, once I was old enough to appreciate it, when those blue eyes could burn and bore a hole through the screen, straight into my consciousness.
In almost all his roles, there was an emotional passion that simmered just under the surface. Whether that surface was one of macho bravado, or a hard-edged utilitarianism, there was a sense of emotional reserves held in check. His best film scenes always allowed that reserve to be stripped away, letting the core emotionality emerge. Whether violent or vulnerable or tender or intense, it was always true.
So, here is a little picspam to celebrate his life. I hope the fans among you will enjoy it.
Paul Newman
January 26, 1925 - September 26, 2008
Undated, but I am guessing 1960, on-set for "Exodus".
Publicity still for "Hud", 1963. Newman was 38.
Newman with Brandon de Wilde in “Hud”.
Another still from “Hud”.
I am not sure which film this comes from. The belt loaded with rounds ought to be a clue. Whatever it comes from, wow.
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in 1963.
Directing “Rachel, Rachel,” 1968.
Paul Newman with Joanne Woodward in Westport, Ct, date not given.
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, 1969, with Katharine Ross and Robert Redford.
With Redford in image used for DVD cover.
At Cannes with Joanne Woodward in 1987; he was 62:
Solo shot at Cannes:
Still a beautiful man at 76, this portrait was taken in 2001:
For those who’d like to know more, below is a copy and paste of an article that just appeared in The Guardian.com.uk, September 27, 2008, by Jenny Percival.
This quote most struck me:
"Paul had an abiding belief in the role that luck plays in one's life, and its randomness. He was quick to acknowledge the good fortune he had in his own life, beginning with being born in America, and was acutely aware of how unlucky so many others were. True to his character, he quietly devoted himself to helping offset this imbalance."
Paul Newman dies at 83
The screen legend Paul Newman has died at the age of 83 after losing a long battle against cancer.
Newman died yesterday at his farmhouse near Westport, Connecticut, said his publicist, Jeff Sanderson. He was surrounded by family and close friends.
Newman was nominated for an Oscar 10 times, winning a best actor trophy in 1987 for The Colour Of Money. The actor with the piercing blue eyes is best known for his leading roles in The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke and for playing opposite longtime friend Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
In May 2007 he said he was giving up acting. "I'm not able to work anymore ... at the level that I would want to," he told the US broadcaster ABC.
Newman initially tried to play down concerns about his health after reports that he was having cancer treatment in New York. This year he pulled out of directing a Connecticut stage production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men because of unspecified health problems.
AE Hotchner, who helped create the successful Newman's Own food company in 1982, confirmed in June that the actor had been ill for 18 months. "It's a form of cancer, and he's dealing with it. Paul is a fighter," Hotchner told the Associated Press.
All proceeds from Newman's Own salad dressings and snacks go to charity, and the actor became a leading advocate for corporate philanthropy. Fox news reported this week that Newman gave away $120m in 2005 and 2006.
The vice-chairman of Newman's Own Foundation, Robert Forrester, today praised the Hollywood star's dedication to charity work.
"Paul Newman's craft was acting. His passion was racing. His love was his family and friends. And his heart and soul were dedicated to helping make the world a better place for all," Forrester said.
"Paul had an abiding belief in the role that luck plays in one's life, and its randomness. He was quick to acknowledge the good fortune he had in his own life, beginning with being born in America, and was acutely aware of how unlucky so many others were. True to his character, he quietly devoted himself to helping offset this imbalance."
Forrester said Newman's Own went from being "something of a joke" to a highly respected food company bringing in millions of dollars a year and with profits of $250 million to date going to charity.
Twenty years ago, Newman created the Hole in the Wall holiday camps for children with life-threatening conditions. More than 135,000 children have attended the camps.
Forrester said: "Paul took advantage of what life offered him, and while personally reluctant to acknowledge that he was doing anything special, he forever changed the lives of many with his generosity, humour and humanness. His legacy lives on in the charities he supported and the Hole in the Wall camps, for which he cared so much.
"We will miss our friend Paul Newman, but are lucky ourselves to have known such a remarkable person."
Wikipedia's article on Paul Newman here.