Method actor, director, Oscar-winner (earning nine other nominations including one for producer), humanitarian, race car driver, liberal political activist, and co-founder of his own charity-inspired food company, Mr. Paul Newman has died. Following months of rumors about the condition of his health, we’ve since discovered that the admirably private 83-year-old legend that fought a quiet battle with cancer was at his home in Westport, Connecticut when he passed away yesterday “surrounded by his family and close friends.”
Perhaps most universally recognizable for those undeniably sexy, cool blue eyes, the devoted humanitarian who held a special place in his heart for seriously ill children co-founded Newman’s Own brand of food related products alongside his friend A.E. Hotchner,with all profits going directly to charitable causes, including $200 million dollars to Newman’s eleven Hole in the Wall Gang camps around the world, “with additional programs in Africa and Vietnam.” With 135,000 attendees visiting the camps free of charge in order to give children suffering from devastating medical conditions a place “where kids could escape the fear, pain and isolation of their conditions, kick back and raise a little hell,” as Newman’s own vice chairman Robert Forrester, it made the fact that, as Newman joked, “the salad dressing [outgrosses] my films,” all the more vital and indicative of his selfless devotion to others.
And although as a budding young film buff, I’d always been drawn to Newman’s work—first as a hormonal straight female teenager tuned into the enormous sex appeal offered by his earliest work—in my earliest writing pursuits, I actually became a recipient of Newman’s generosity myself. For, when I received a national Silver Award for a dramatic screenplay I’d written at the age of fifteen as part of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, I learned that the organization had benefited from Newman. In the introductory speech at the Library of Congress, I learned that he, who years earlier had seen some of our work displayed, became so impressed that he reportedly offered assistance right on the spot to the organization that in the past had given awards to such famous scribes as Sylvia Plath and Truman Capote. Needless to say, when I became one of the few female degree-seeking students in the realm of film studies, I liked carrying the spirit of Newman’s courage in the importance of young talent with me through the hardest of times.
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Article comments
1 - David Maye
Our deepest condolances to the Newman family. One of the screen's greats. Paul liked to come to Montreal for The Grand Prix. We will always have his work. My wife and I were watching "Exodus," last night.
Prayerfully,
David Maye..Montreal, Canada
2 - Ruvy
Did you notice that "Exodus" (as dog of a movie with a great musical score that says it all "This Land is Mine") was not mentioned at all in Jen Johans otherwise thorough "hespéd" for Mr. Newman? It wasn't mentioned at Desicritics either by Aaman Lamba.....
3 - Jen
Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed the piece. I couldn't believe how many films Paul Newman had made! It broke my heart not to be able to include Sydney Pollack's Absence of Malice, Disney Pixar's Cars,Paris Blues, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Slap Shot, Hitchcock's Torn Curtain, Empire Falls and so many others. I actually have never seen Exodus but if you say it's a "dog of a movie," Ruvy, I think it's okay that I missed that one.
4 - Marta L.
This world lost somebody very important. Mr. Paul Newman was not only an actor, but a great human being and a fantastic person. I was so fortunate to see most of his movies and read about his and his family's charity activities and there are no words to express my gratitude for all he has done. His family background, jut like mine is Hungarian/German and first time in long time I am very proud to say this.
5 - Ruvy
One of these days, Jen, when I actually get a hold of the book "The Godfather", by Mario Puzo, I'm going to write a review of both the movie and the book - and of the book "Exodus" by Leon Uris and the movie of the same name. Both authors were on hand as consultants or screenwriters themselves for both movies, so the dialogue was pretty loyal to the authors' text. The only literary "license" taken with both movies was that of the original authors themselves.
Yet there is a great deal missing from both movies. Puzo did a better job of hiding all that was missing in transitioning from the book to the movie than did Uris. It must also be admitted that both books, "hollywoodizations" of real and far more dramatic events, suffered from the fact that they were "hollywoodizations" in the first place - but Uris's book suffered far more than Puzo's.
This all gets far away from the original article, doesn't it, though? The late Mr. Newman was a Noahide - not a Christian or a Jew, and now that he is dead, the Noahide movement can advertise that fact if they wish.... If it helps grow their movement, so much the better.
Finally, he will be missed. He was an outstanding actor with an immense body of work to his name, and it will be a long time before someone like him emerges again.