A spokeswoman for screen legend Paul Newman says the actor has died at age 83. Spokeswoman Marni Tomljanovic says Newman died Friday of cancer. No other details were immediately available.
Newman was nominated for Academy Awards 10 times, winning a regular Oscar in 1987 for “The Color of Money” and two honorary ones. He was equally at home in comedies such as “The Sting” and dramas such as “Hud.”
He sometimes teamed with his wife, Joanne Woodward, also an Oscar winner for the 1957 film “Three Faces of Eve.”
This short video from the Sundance Channel features Newman and Redford reminiscing about their early days as actors:
Although his first marriage ended in divorce, his second to Joanne Woodward became famous for being one of the most enduring in the history of Hollywood.
He lived away from Hollywood in Connecticut and was devoted to his wife and family. When asked about infidelity, he quipped:
“Why go out for hamburger when you have steak at home?”
Although he he had been nominated for Oscars he didn’t actually win Best Actor until the mid-80s when he reprised his role of “Fast” Eddie Felson in The Color of Money (1986) which was directed by Martin Scorsese.
His last film role on screen was as an Irish mob boss in Road to Perdition (2002), which he starred in alongside Tom Hanks, but his final work in a movie was as the voice of Doc Hudson in the Pixar animation hit Cars (2006).
Outside of his film career, Newman had a passion for motorsports which he discovered while training for and filming the 1969 film Winning.
Here he is discussing his racing on a David Letterman appearence in 2007:
He won several national championships in Sports Car Club of America road racing and his race teams won several championships in open wheel Indy Car racing.
Politically liberal, he campaigned for various issues and politicians down the years.
Paul Newman, the legendary actor and philanthropist, is battling cancer, his longtime neighbor and business partner said Wednesday.
Newman, 83, has recently appeared gaunt in photos, and dropped plans to direct a play in his Connecticut hometown.
Writer A.E. Hotchner, who partnered with Newman to start Newman’s Own salad dressing company in the 1980s, said the actor told him about the disease about 18 months ago.
He did not specify what kind of cancer, but said Newman is in active treatment.
“I know that it’s a form of cancer,” Hotchner told The Associated Press. “It’s a form of cancer and he’s dealing with it.”
Newman issued a statement late Tuesday that he’s “doing nicely” but didn’t specifically address questions about cancer. A call was placed to his spokesman Wednesday seeking comment.
However, Hotchner is now saying the AP misquoted him, according to MSNBC:
Paul Newman’s friend and business partner, A.E. Hotchner, is denying a report, which quotes him telling the Associated Press that the actor is fighting cancer.
“I saw him last week and he seemed fine,” Hotchner told Access Hollywood exclusively. “I have no knowledge of any diagnosis or doctors.”
Earlier Wednesday, the AP reported that Hotchner confirmed Newman was battling cancer and was currently undergoing treatment.
The longtime friend and business partner of Newman’s told Access the quotes are incorrect.
“The AP misquoted me. I have no knowledge of Mr. Newman being treated for any illness,” Hotchner said.
