Thursday
I am very sorry to hear this. I could not give a damn about what his political views are. Fact is, he has been one of the acting greats. The Sting, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, Cool Hand Luke, Harper, The Road to Perdition....that is just a few of them. And he was a pretty mean motor racing driver as well, like his old pal, Steve McQueen, who succumbed to cancer at a much younger age.
At 83, he's already put a lot of miles on the clock, but I hope he can make a few more.
Very sad. One of the best actors, and the handsomest and classiest men ever.
Posted by Alisa at June 12, 2008 10:05 AM
Yes, very sad news. He made an unusually large number of great movies.
In recent years he has apparently devoted most of his time to his Newman's Own Salad Dressing (an other foods) business, and has donated all his profits from such to various charities.
Plus he has sponsored an award for people who have defended First Amendment rights in adverse situations.
So there are lots of reasons to like him - not just that he made good movies.
Posted by Michael Jennings at June 12, 2008 10:41 AM
I like him for staying out of the tabloids. He was always above the jet set crowd - a family man who would rather spend time at home than be a party and media whore.
Posted by Joshua at June 12, 2008 12:41 PM
Bill O'Reilly agrees with you J.P.
Last night he pointed out not just that Mr Newman is a great actor - but that in the last few years alone he has given over a hundred million Dollars to charity.
Posted by Paul Marks at June 12, 2008 02:37 PM
Paul Newman will be remembered always for other things than his donations to charity.
For films like "The Hustler", maybe his best, and the sequel (after almost 40 years) "Tho color of money".
Also "Exodus".
And, for being a "mensch".
(A "mensch" is a particularly good person, like "a stand-up guy," a person with the qualities one would hope for in a dear friend or trusted colleague.)
Posted by Jacob at June 12, 2008 05:30 PM
I'm fortunate to have grown up (and still live) in the area where Paul Newman's lived for most of his adult life, and I had the honour to meet him and his wife at a race track years ago.
I don't agree w/ his politics, but if everyone on either side of the aisle was like him, the world would be a better place. He's done an enormous amount to better his community, and his charity works are more than enough to earn him a fine reward at the end of his life.
Plus he's a super-nice guy, very down-to-earth, with out the least bit of artifice or pomp about him. His only quirk was he hated being asked for an autograph, and everyone in town knew not to. All he asked for was to be treated as a completely regular guy.
There are really only two words to describe Paul Newman: Class Act.
Posted by Tuck at June 12, 2008 07:08 PM
Paul Newman is definitely one of the good ones. As previous generations remembered him as Butch Sundance, this generation of kids will remember him as the voice of Doc Hudson. I salute him.
Posted by Monique at June 12, 2008 11:12 PM
