Cancer: Paul Newman's Friend Confirms Ill, Newman Turns Over $120 Million To Charity

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A longtime neighbor and business partner of Paul Newman has told The Associated Press the 83-year-old actor is battling cancer.

Writer A.E. Hotchner, who partnered with Newman to start Newman's Own salad dressing company in the 1980s, says Newman told him about the disease about 18 months ago. He doesn't say what kind of cancer.

Concerns about Newman's health have been circulating for months. Last month, officials at Connecticut's Westport Country Playhouse cited unspecified health issues when they announced that Newman wouldn't direct "Of Mice and Men" this fall.

In response to reports of Newman's illness, the actor's spokesman issued a statement Tuesday saying that Newman is "doing nicely." The statement doesn't specifically address cancer.

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Fox News reports:

Movie star Paul Newman has quietly turned over the entire value of his ownership in Newman's Own -- the company that makes salad dressing and cookies -- to charity.

Completed over a two-year period in 2005 and 2006, the amount of his donations to Newman's Own Foundation Inc. comes to an astounding $120 million.

This is unprecedented for any movie star or anyone from what we call Hollywood. Of course Newman and actress wife Joanne Woodward have never been Hollywood types. They've lived their lives quietly in Westport, Conn., for the last 50 years. (They were married in January 1958. And people said it wouldn't last!)

This column learned about this extraordinary gift as news started coming out recently about Newman's battle

Newman in May:

Comments

[DMcD]

You've got to consider the source ; a "Faux" story -------------- I can only hope that like the rest of the outright "lies" that Faux spews out ; this stoty is also a "lie".

Thanx for the memories Paul.

[geekgurl]

God Bless, Mr. Newman. I admire his humanitarian work. His efforts and life live on through all the many people he has helped.

[GeoNorth]

I met PL Newman at the race track when I covered the sport on radio. He's been considered a local at Lime Rock Park since he began his racing career. He's always been funny, gracious, intense and a hell of a great driver. He's also a great humanitarian, crafty business man, oh, and I hear a pretty good actor, too. Get well, Newman.

[biglover]

And a great liberal democrat. He used to be one of the most handsome men on the planet, in addition to be decent.

[cBc]

How sad that his friend saw fit to discuss personal information about Paul Newman with the press.
I would think that if he wanted people to know about his health status, he could just do it himself.

[marko77]

Paul Newman was great in all the roles he played. His giving 120 million to charity reminds me of Muhammad Ali who has given millions away to others, saying he couldn't take it with him. People like this are inspiring.

[ramblingjohnny]

I respect what Paul did and I hope he get better. But man He look like NED on that racetrack picture.

[Indepatriot]

Thank you, Mr Newman, for showin us all how it should be done. Cool Hand Luke is one of my all time favorites.

[ParanoidPollyanna]

Paul Newman would've made a great President of the United States, sure would've been better than old "B" actor Ronald Reagan, that hack actor, or the current Clown we've got in the White House! I've loved just about every Movie he's been in, even "The Hustler", because back in the '60's, I was an early "Pool Feminist", when women didn't SHOOT pool, so I loved that Movie too.

[SweetAngie]

We wish you well, man. You have had such a great life, and look at you! Still hitting it strong with charities, your businesses and a big heart the size of Texas.

You are in our prayers!

[neoprimordial]

Couldn't say it better than that.

[calpubserv]

Great actor, great man.

[Cunningham]

...and great humanitarian.

[Cunningham]

...and a great humanitarian.

[carolinacowboyinla]

As I said yesterday. Paul, you made me do what I do for a living and you make me strive to be a better human being.

Thanks for helping us all out Paul and doing what most people have no idea or even think about doing to help others. You are an inspiration to mankind. You are an inspiration to America. You are an inspiration to artist all over the world.

Get better and keep up the GREAT work you do just being you!

[markand]

I remember in New York, when they had the Tom Cruise "Hustler" movie come out, and I was working as a waiter for that opening night party, and when I saw Newman, I said to a fellow worker,"I didn't realize he's not that tall". But truly, he one of the tallest actors in this business. My best wishes to his family, and his friends. Truly a class act.

[Tages72]

Paul Newman had the honor of landing in Nixon's much-lauded "enemies list" back in the 70's. Any guy who manages that is OK in my book. This latest news regarding Newman's Own comes as no surprise: It's what people expect from Paul by now. I was a kid when he started his food business and am saddened to hear about it, but it's going to a good cause, just like Paul designed it to do.

What does surprise me is the news about his illness. Please folks, let's continue to give the Newmans the privacy they've long since cherished. Paul Newman will go down in the history books as one of Hollywood's great humanitarians. I wish him and his family the very best.

[Ihaveadream]

I wish him well. Paul and Joanne are two of the great ones, in talent, class and generosity. There are few like them today.

Do we see today's celebrity recording stars or movie stars actively raising the kind of money Newman has to give back to their former neighborhoods? No - instead they attend those phony "photo op" charity events where the clothes and jewels they wear cost more than the actual money raised. And then they load up on discounted designer items (shopping for charity) that they get to write off as tax deductions.