Obituary: Paul Newman

Oct 17, 2008

Manish Golder

Paul Leonard Newman, actor, born January 26 1925; died September 26 2008

Paul Newman, who succumbed to lung cancer on 26^th September, 2008, was more than a sum of his parts. In this case the parts being that of a certain pair of forget-me-not blue eyes, swooning handsomeness, an honest man, a Hollywood original, a loving father and husband, an avid racer – well that list does stretch a bit. As Dragline would say “he was a natural born world-shaker”. Only, he shook us and others in ways that no celluloid anti-hero could ever imagine. But as all obituaries seem to begin, so shall I with memories of blue lightening mingling with his eyes while he lay on his prison bunk. "Yes, his eyes were that blue and beautiful” – Eva Marie Saint recalls; guess he just couldn’t help looking that good.

Paul Newman was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio to Jewish-Christian parents; his father owned a profitable sporting goods store, he was late entrant into what would, over the subsequent years, become a legendary career in film. As all pretty boys are destined to be - mere props in costume epics, strutting around looking good, and drawing general critical derision; Paul Newman missed a similar fate by a hair’s breadth. He would go on to advertise in a leading magazine begging people to not watch his first movie ‘The Silver Chalice’- featuring an uncomfortable Newman in a toga; a cringe-inducing experience he would forever be apologetic of. Critical acclaim came his way after his role as Rocky Graziano in “Somebody Up There Likes Me” (first-choice James Dean’s since-romanticised car crash providing the big break). He made a seemingly natural transition from the 1950s to the subsequently socially tumultuous 60s and 70s, becoming in the process one of the only few actors to successfully do so. As the eponymous ‘Hud’ and ‘Cool Hand Luke’, he transferred his animal grace into a popular expression of rebellion – against authority and all set norms – as he would twist and morph his own avatar into the most unlikely of them all: "But what really made everyone out there like him was that he became the rebel with a cause. As Cool Hand Luke or Butch Cassidy, Newman gave his audiences a vicarious thrill by thumbing his nose at an unjust society. ... It wasn't the blue eyes. It was the red blood and the gray matter."¹

Barring the misadventure on debut, Newman would forever continue to play down his good looks with almost an obsessive zeal, playing instead some of the most iconic anti-heroes in cinema. As one critic would once say - "Could it be that Newman was always uncomfortable with his natural assets — such handsomeness — and never convinced by them? That would account for the uneasy mixture of porous cockiness and mumbling naturalism, just as it fits with his urge to prove himself as a serious citizen." ²

Despite his matinee idol billing, Paul checked out early on the flashy life of Hollywood. He chose, instead, to spend time with his family away from tinsel town and public glare. A perfect union of 50 years with his wife Joanne Woodword (they celebrated their last anniversary in February) stood testimony to his uniqueness. As did his salad dressing company, Newman’s Own; all of whose post-tax profits were donated to charity. As of date the total amount donated stands at around $250 million – making Paul Newman the single largest contributor to charity in proportion to his wealth. His the Hole in The Wall Gang Camp for seriously ill children now provides care for over 13,000 children free of cost. It was as he termed “Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good” – a phrase that runs across the banner of Newman’s Own homepage.

Well, Butch Cassidy did ‘good’, we’re proud of you Luke. Send us a postcard from wherever you are. Hope you’ve got your plastic Jesus with you for the longest of them rides ‘you, wild, beautiful thing’; may your soul rest in peace.

1. The 100 Greatest Stars of All Time," Entertainment Weekly

2. David Thomson, "A Biographical Dictionary of Film," 1994.