Paul Newman Dead at 83
[Guest post by DRJ]
Paul Newman died yesterday at his home in Connecticut of complications from cancer. He was 83.
— DRJ
UPDATE BY PATTERICO: Newman was always one of my top five favorite actors. I loved him in movies like Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy, Hud, and The Verdict. What’s more, he was an extraordinarily decent family man who did good works. My sympathies to his family.
If you have any criticisms of him, save them for another day, or they’ll be deleted.
Eulogy
David Warner (569e58) — 9/27/2008 @ 10:31 amRIP Paul – Must watch Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Cool Hand Luke again soon.
Jack Klompus (b0e238) — 9/27/2008 @ 10:33 am“What we have here…
…is a failure to communicate.”
RIP
Peter (e70d1c) — 9/27/2008 @ 10:40 amShhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Larry Reilly (d11f9a) — 9/27/2008 @ 10:40 amPlease don’t call him an Obamatard. Let him RIP.
He did donate the max $2,300 to Obama, Hillary, Al Franken and a long list of Dems, and Dems only. In this very small room that is considered unprincipled.
Truly enjoyed his acting, but he should also be remembered for his charitable giving whilst providing some really good salad dressings and other products. His politics? Let’s save that discussion for another day. RIP, Mr. Newman.
Old Coot (2f3a50) — 9/27/2008 @ 10:46 amLarry Reilly,
Please leave politics out of this thread. It’s not appropriate.
Patterico (df0640) — 9/27/2008 @ 11:24 amPatterico is right on. In our politically poisoned atmosphere, so much is about that “D” versus “R” nonsense.
My mother, a VERY conservative lady, doesn’t have any sympathy for Ted Kennedy’s medical problems, and yet was furious when some nutjobs on the ‘net said nasty things about Tony Snow after he passed away too soon.
Regardless of his politics, Paul Newman was true craftsman in his art, without all the silly self-absorbed histrionics we see so often from Hollyweird types. AND he gave huge sums to charity.
I’m so tired of people who define themselves in ways that fit onto a bumper sticker. Life is more complicated that than
I grew up watching Paul Newman movies. Ditto Charleton Heston. Both were fine actors, and will be missed. No need to bring politics into it.
Eric Blair (d07d10) — 9/27/2008 @ 11:31 amSigh. I meant to write “Life is more complicated than that.”
Eric Blair (d07d10) — 9/27/2008 @ 11:32 amMexican Bandit: [coming up the hill, waving a red handkerchief tied to a stick] Hey, hombre!
nk (796b84) — 9/27/2008 @ 11:46 amJohn Russell: [Russell finishes loading his rifle and goes to see what the Mexican Bandit wants]
Mexican Bandit: Look amigo, how close you come!
[indicating the wound on his stomach]
John Russell: I tried to do better; I think you moved.
Mexican Bandit: You can be sure I move! How do you prefer them, eh, tied to a tree?
John Russell: That’d be nice.
Mexican Bandit: You like to pull the trigger, eh?
John Russell: I can do it again for you.
Also,a very talented and successful race car driver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y87EaadjqM&feature=related
One of my favorite scenes from Butch Cassidy
campfreddy (d0d738) — 9/27/2008 @ 11:53 amRIP Paul.
I find it hard to pick any one role of his as my favorite, he did so many!
His last role was as “Doc Hudson” in Cars (voice) and he gave it as much effort as any other. Professional and classy to the end.
Darleen (187edc) — 9/27/2008 @ 12:09 pmA great actor, a great philanthropist, and a great man. Never gave into all that bs that can come with stardom.
Cool Hand Luke is high on my all-time favorites list, and I never tire of watching it. A couple of other films worth re-watching are Slap Shot & Nobody’s Fool.
Bob Loblaw (6d485c) — 9/27/2008 @ 12:44 pm“He did donate the max $2,300 to Obama, Hillary, Al Franken and a long list of Dems, and Dems only. In this very small room that is considered unprincipled.”
I think that’s exactly wrong. An example of “unprincipled” are those who donate to both parties in a race in the hopes of gaining influence/access to whomever ends up winning. Paul Newman was a deeply principled man who consistently and passionately supported liberal causes throughout his life. I do believe his political principles were (mostly) wrong, but they were sincere, and I admired his conviction.
Then again, he was so damn convincing as Hud that maybe he was a total ass after all. Hee.
RIP Paul, and thank you for your work.
Jarz (9917a9) — 9/27/2008 @ 12:44 pmNewman is one of my top faves, and that not only includes his body of work but also his life in total. He lived by true Liberal principles, and was one of the few public figures who put his money where his mouth was, while eschewing taking public stands regarding his political viewpoints. He made no secret of his distaste for other actors who behaved differently, and for that he’ll always be one of my heroes.
People also forget that (along with Heston) Newman also partook in the inital Civil Rights marches with King, and both actors were seriously threatened with bodily harm before their participation. It was a real risk to take those types of public stands, and we should not forget the type of courage that required back in that era.
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/27/2008 @ 1:08 pmBTW, impossible to pick a favorite, but Harper will always be at the top of my list.
Dmac (e639cc) — 9/27/2008 @ 1:11 pmMy only criticism of Paul Newman is that he died too young. We are poorer for his absence.
David (2fd250) — 9/27/2008 @ 1:20 pmRest in Peace. Truly good man.
voiceofreason2 (10af7e) — 9/27/2008 @ 1:33 pmGorgeous plus movie star usually equals shallow. Not Paul Newman. What a magnificent and giving person. His DNC contributions are to be admired. It’s probably hard to estimate how many millions he & his family gave to charity through their food products. He loved his wife to pieces, and she him.
If he was too sick to catch news of the Edwards story, that would’ve been to his benefit. He was a passionate family man and I don’t think he would’ve understood that choice, even with his Hollywood savvy. His contributions go far beyond his awesome movie roles.
It doesn’t matter if you’re voting for O or Mac. Dedicate your next bowl of popcorn to Paul Newman.
Vermont Neighbor (a066ed) — 9/27/2008 @ 1:41 pmAnd for Larry Reilly out of Chicago: at this site you’ll find respect for all political leanings. You’re mixing things up with the lockstep thinking at HuffPo. Nice attempt to hijack the thread.
Vermont Neighbor (a066ed) — 9/27/2008 @ 1:42 pmNewman was one of the best actors of the last century. He worked hard at it, it was a craft and he gave it deep and thoughtful care. But for all that, his ability to act was, for him, almost incidental. He cared more about many things in life, including race cars, his wife, and the extraordinary support he gave to charity.
We are blessed that this extraordinary man shared a bit of himself with us, through the fundamentally insubstantial medium of film.
If only there were more like him.
Richard R (09476a) — 9/27/2008 @ 1:44 pmYes, Rest in Peace. A true American acting icon and philanthropist. I was in Connecticut near Newman in Westport in mid-sixties. Wonder if he kept the same estate all these years. I never heard of any scandal on him. He and his wife have been together forever. Can’t decide which movies were his best. Last I recall seeing at theatre was Road To Perdition. All these aging stars make me feel like a geezer too. Funny I just bought some of his Sockeroo pasta sauce the other day.
madmax333 (0c6cfc) — 9/27/2008 @ 1:55 pmMax, I just saw a pic of their home recently. Can’t be sure, but thought it was their long-time home (marriage, on). Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward in the kitchen (Westport)
Vermont Neighbor (a066ed) — 9/27/2008 @ 2:30 pmCat on a Hot Tin Roof – the scene where Paul Newman grabs ‘Maggie’s’ nightgown off the back of the bathroom door and holds it to his face and inhales her fragrance.
Now that’s a leading man!
Dana (4d3ea0) — 9/27/2008 @ 2:34 pmHow about “Absence of Malice”. He was excellent in that movie and really made an ass out of the movies’ politicians. RIP
The Dude (bc3097) — 9/27/2008 @ 2:50 pmI guess I’m in the minority here, but my favorite Newman movie was probably “Nobody’s Fool”
Hoystory (b20f81) — 9/27/2008 @ 2:51 pmHere’s a nice YouTube video tribute on Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
DRJ (c953ab) — 9/27/2008 @ 3:12 pmI’ll be 50 next year and it is a little depressing to see people like him depart the scene. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was the first movie I remember him in and probably my favorite of his followed by “The Sting”.
voiceofreason2 (590c85) — 9/27/2008 @ 3:13 pm#27 Newman’s costar Robert Redford in those two flicks you mentioned looks rather aged himself.
Don’t forget Exodus as an early Newman movie.
littlegreenfootballs has link for the terrific opening scene of Paul Newman in the Coen Brothers’ The Hudsucker Proxy.
madmax333 (0c6cfc) — 9/27/2008 @ 5:14 pm#27 Newman’s costar Robert Redford in those two flicks you mentioned looks rather aged himself.
Don’t forget Exodus as an early Newman movie.
littlegreenfootballs has link for the terrific opening scene of Paul Newman in the Coen Brothers’ The Hudsucker Proxy.
madmax333 (0c6cfc) — 9/27/2008 @ 5:14 pmI remember reading an article…he was asked about why his marriage to Joanne Woodward was still so strong. He said “Why go out for hamburger, when you can come home to steak”.
Classy actor, good husband and father and humanitarian…another name added to the marquee in heaven.
fmfnavydoc (0dd45c) — 9/27/2008 @ 6:12 pmKenyon College alum.
Fritz (2d9fe6) — 9/27/2008 @ 6:58 pmBob Loblaw, comment 12 @ 12:44 pm, nailed it. Slap Shot is the best sports movie ever made and probably one of the five funniest movies of all time. So many great characters in that flick, but Newman’s over-the-hill player/coach was the one who carried the movie.
JVW (75c535) — 9/27/2008 @ 9:29 pmI’m happy to see a couple of people mentioned “Nobody’s Fool” one of my all time favorite movies, which is about a man finally growing up at age 60. (He was 70 when he made it.) Besides the fact that I identify with the story, it is about real people with only one gunshot fired, one punch thrown, no explosions and a lot of humor and wisdom.
Like a few other stars, Newman could dominate the screen even when he wasn’t saying anything.
Only slightly further down my list: “The Hustler”, “The Sting” and “Road to Perdition”.
Patrick Moran (d0421e) — 9/28/2008 @ 2:24 pmit’s hard not to admire Paul Newman for putting his money to work in such productive ways, such as his Newman’s Own line–high quality stuff and the proceeds go to good causes… very smart.
movie fan (212fad) — 10/13/2008 @ 5:58 pm