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.

****

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

[BeSpoke]

Years ago, the wife of my friends who lived in Westport, Ct. said that at a party, Paul walked up to her and winked and whispered in her ear: "you know every lady in this room wants to sleep with me".

[Gasparilla]

There is no evidence he's ever been a womanizer. I think your friend is full of it.

[liberalissima]

Dear Gasparilla, what doc3osh probably meant is that "every lady in this room wants to sleep with me", not that he has slept with evey lady in the room.

[lloydc123]

When a reporter asked Paul Newman why there had been no rumors of his cheating on his wife, he replied, "Why go out for hamburger when I have steak at home?"

[doc3osh]

Even if he did say that, once, at a party... what purpose could you possibly serve by adding it here? Imagine if every thing you ever said-- every single offhand comment or one-liner-- could be publicly printed and used to judge you... how would your life appear to outsiders?

Clearly, the man has done far better than most of us in leading a life worth living. And frankly, if he DID say that... he was almost certainly telling the truth.

[MarkieBee]

Yeah, kind of like the Rev. Wright issue huh?

[GrainOSand]

Fast Eddie Felson: Fat Man, you shoot a great game of pool.
Minnesota Fats: So do you, Fast Eddie.
--The Hustler (1961)

Paul Newman you have lived a great life and may it continue in the flesh and in spirit and someday -- far and distant from now -- only in spirit to inspire all who encounter it through film, sound, and text. Each life is precious but not every life is distinguished by the sunshine of mass appeal. I hope this hour finds you comforted in knowing that you are indeed blessed which has nothing to do with wealth for if it did you could buy life. Yet, it is known and accepted, that one can only live life, and Mr. Paul Newman you have lived it well and I pray you continue.

Thank you for the gift that is your expressed talent and your refined persona. I am inspired and informed by it, and better, for having witnessed such a fine example of the possibilities afforded a life, by God, by providence, or by the happenstance of the undefined and the uknown.

[Clem2]

A really fine, fine human being to say nothing of being a great actor.

My thoughts and healing vibes are with you.

I am hoping for the best.

[starkravingmadeleine]

This is a great man and a great story. I wish the news were full of more stories like this. It's inspiring and uplifting. And I love Newman's products!

[pcplz]

Nobody has bluer eyes! ........si­gh........­The Sting! Yeah!

Get well, used to run the parkway now and again in the red Targa 911 against a suped up VW. VW always won. LOL!

[JScott]

One of the decent celebs. Paris this is who should be your role model.

Sadly I read somewhere where he was a heavy smoker.

[duckdis]

Paul Newman, now there's a man! More of us need to follow his lead of giving to receive, then repeat.........

[NoSillyName]

I didn't know he was ill. What a great man, philanthropist, actor, race car driver, etc. Joanne is wonderful as well. More "stars" should follow in their footsteps.... lead a dignified life and stay out of the media.

I buy as many Newman's Own products as I can find.

Good luck to Mr. Newman and his family.

[MinerSam]

HOW TRAGIC.

We love you Paul and are not ready to see you go!

Drink Ginger Tea and inhale the fumes,

Check out Chinese Remedies. They've existed for 5,000 years.

Hope you are surrounded with love energy.

[NoOtherWay]

Chinese medicine rarely works in double blind studies, and it's responsible for driving many plants and animal species towards extinction.

Screw Chinese medicine!

[Eric8869]

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward are great people. (and great talents) My thoughts are with them.

My only regret is that she pretty much gave up her career to be in the background to her husband. She is an incredible actress.

[luxou812]

Where did you hear this?

Age, and the resulting difficulty getting parts had nothing to do with it? She seemed a little too spirited for this to be the reason she "gave up" her career. But if you say so....

[se7enMMBsg]

. . . oh bullshit on that nugget of garbage. Newman kept his "film" career going - often acting with Joanne, while Joanne did what she loved most: THEATER. They each did what they "each" loved, and that was acting; the only difference was the medium. Even then they both loved working with one another in various projects on film and theater.

~GOD BLESS THEM BOTH!
se7en

[LordMoon]

I wish you well Mr. Newman, you are in my prayers and my thoughts.

[talkingclock]

I wish Mr. Newman well and keep you in my prayers. A fine man, he is.

[darthdarcy]

What a great guy great actor and I saw him race at Limerock when I still drove there and he was really great the fastest on the track that day..

[PepeLepew]

Oh, poor guy! Get well.
Paul Newman and I have the same birthday and we both played hockey in college.

[hilaritee]

loooooooove him and always will. thank you for being so good. i wish all of hollywood (angelina jolie i am looking in your direciton) could be so dignified with their good works.

[KarateKid]

You youngsters really missed it. When he was a young man, he was a STAR who happened to be a great actor to boot.

Watch Cool Hand Luke. It's a classic. So is Hud and the Hustler.