Newman, Paul (1925-2008), an American actor, won fame for his action roles and convincing character studies in motion pictures. He portrayed outsiders or rebels in many of his films. He won the Academy Award as best actor for his performance in The Color of Money (1986). In 1986, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Newman an honorary Academy Award “in recognition of his many and memorable and compelling screen performances and for his personal integrity and dedication to his craft.”
Paul Leonard Newman was born in Cleveland on Jan. 26, 1925, and studied acting at Kenyon College, Yale University, and the Actors Studio. He made his Broadway debut in Picnic (1953) after appearing in several television dramas. Newman’s first movie was The Silver Chalice (1954). He gained stardom in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1957). Newman’s other films include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Long, Hot Summer (both 1958), Exodus (1960), The Hustler (1961), Hud (1963), Harper (1966), Hombre and Cool Hand Luke (both 1967), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), The Towering Inferno (1974), Slap Shot (1977), Absence of Malice (1981), The Verdict (1982), Blaze (1989), Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (1990), Nobody’s Fool (1994), Twilight (1998), and Road to Perdition (2002). Newman starred on Broadway in Sweet Bird of Youth (1959). He directed Rachel, Rachel (1968), The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972), and The Glass Menagerie (1987). All three starred his wife, Academy Award winner Joanne Woodward. Newman directed and starred in Sometimes a Great Notion (1971).
Newman was also a professional race car driver and co-owned an automobile racing team. He provided the voice of a talking race car in the animated feature Cars (2006). He was also noted for his charitable work. In 1982, he cofounded Newman’s Own, a successful food company, all proceeds from which are donated to charity. For his charitable work, Newman received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award during Academy Award ceremonies in 1994. Newman died on Sept. 26, 2008.
