Paul Newman, the film star, racing driver, team owner and humanitarian entrepreneur has died at the age of 83. Newman was the part-owner of the Newman Haas Lanigan Racing team in the Indy Racing League.
He made his debut on Broadway and had his first movie in 1954. He played boxer Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me and followed up with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Elizabeth Taylor. It was not until the 1960s that he became a superstar with The Hustler (1961), Hud (1963), Harper (1966) and Cool Hand Luke (1967). He teamed up with fellow actor Robert Redford for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sting (1973). In addition to his acting career he directed four films, all of them featuring his wife Joanne Woodward. He has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, and an Emmy award, along with many honorary awards. His most recent role in film was as the voice of Doc Hudson in the Pixar animation "Cars".
Newman had a soft spot for underdogs in real life, giving tens of millions to charities through his food company and setting up camps for severely ill children. Passionately opposed to the Vietnam War, and in favor of civil rights, he was so famously liberal that he ended up on President Nixon's "enemies list," one of the actor's proudest achievements, he liked to say.
Newman is survived by his wife, five children, two grandsons and his older brother Arthur.
Permalink | Send To A Friend | Linking Blogs | Digg this! | FARK It!
Filed under:
Obits
Comments (2)
This was a great, great man... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Paul Hooson | September 27, 2008 5:33 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This was a great, great man. Unfortunately, that cigarette in his mouth doesn't look so cool now. But I always buy his healthy food products for myself and appreciate his charity work from this.
1. Posted by Paul Hooson | September 27, 2008 5:33 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 27, 2008 17:33
2. Posted by movie fan | October 17, 2008 12:04 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
it's hard not to admire Paul Newman for putting his money to work in such productive ways, such as his Newman's Own line--high quality stuff and the proceeds go to good causes... very smart.
2. Posted by movie fan | October 17, 2008 12:04 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on October 17, 2008 00:04