The Guy In My Refrigerator: Paul Newman

Paul Newman, seen here in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, passed away last night.

The man whose picture has been in my refrigerator for 25 years has passed away. That would be Paul Newman, who said of his Newman's Own salad dressing: "The sad thing is that the salad dressing out-grosses my films." He was being amusing, as usual. The proceeds, incidentally, went to charity.

Paul Newman died of cancer last night at his home in Westport, Connecticut. His illness, which came on this year, had been kept private. He was 83.

Newman was one of the biggest stars in the history of movies, equally adept at playing the hero and the anti-hero. Like his mostly friendly rival, Steve McQueen, Newman set the standard in the '60s for the action-oriented matinee idol. Like McQueen, he was also a top race car driver, finishing second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and running a US racing outfit for decades. Yet off-screen, he was a staunch political activist. He said he was prouder of making the Nixon enemies list than he was of his 10 Academy Award nominations.

Paul Newman in his Oscar-winning role in The Color of Money.

Among his classic roles: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, Hud, Cool Hand Luke ("What we got here is failure to communicate"), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (perhaps my boyhood favorite), The Sting, Absence of Malice (not an inducement to journalism), The Verdict (not an inducement to lawyering), The Color of Money (in which Newman won the Oscar he was nominated for in The Hustler by playing the older-but-wiser Fast Eddie Felson, who can teach that whipper-snapper Tom Cruise a thing or three), and Road To Perdition (his last Oscar-nominated role, in which he plays the current 007's dad).

Newman was a great gentleman, a Hollywood oddity in that he was married to the same woman, Oscar-winning actress Joanne Woodward, for 50 years. "When you have steak at home," Newman quipped, "why go out for hamburger?"

Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger put it this way:

"Paul Newman was the ultimate cool guy, who men wanted to be like and women adored. He was an American icon, a brilliant actor, a Renaissance man and a generous but modest philanthropist. He entertained millions in some of Hollywood's most memorable roles ever, and he brightened the lives of many more, especially seriously ill children, through his charitable works. Paul was one of a kind."

"Why, you crazy ... the fall will probably kill ya!"

The predictable encomiums for Paul Newman are pouring in. My recollection of the man is that he would welcome them, but with a big shaker of salt. The current hagiographies would have caused him to gag.

Warren Beatty, who knew Newman well and considered playing the Sundance Kid (ultimately played in his breakout performance by a fellow named Robert Redford) -- which would have meant he'd have to wear a cowboy hat, one of his least favorite things to do -- told me that Newman was "a sweet, unpretentious guy." And the gold standard for younger actors like Beatty coming up in the seminal 1960s.

We never got the chance to appreciate Newman's great contemporary and (mostly) friendly rival, Steve McQueen, in the fullness of his life. McQueen, who lived for a time down the hall from Beatty on the penthouse floor of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel -- what an interesting elevator that was -- died a most untimely death at the age of 50, back in 1980. Also from cancer.

Newman earned five Academy Award nominations after that, including his Oscar win as best actor in The Color of Money. I was pleased to have met both Newman and McQueen back when they were vying for the crown of top box office star in the world. They both starred, and nobody is mentioning this movie, merely one of the biggest hits of the era, in a movie set in my home town called The Towering Inferno. Newman played the architect of the world's tallest building (in San Francisco!) and McQueen played the fire chief out to save it. When it, you know, became an inferno of the towering variety.

A thoroughly silly film, which also starred the great Faye Dunaway, a Beatty discovery. Which megastar had the top billing, Newman or McQueen? Well, it depends on how you look at it. Literally. One had his name on the left, mindful that in English, you read left to right. One had his name slightly above the other's. Which was which? Bygones.

Let's hear it for Paul Newman, one of the most enduring stars in history, well into this era of disposable celebrity. A gentleman with a deep sense of humor, who turned in some of the most indelible performances in some of the most classic films of the post-war era.

Comments

[starcasmdotnet]

Paul Newman was a classy guy, and both his acting and his food products were top notch.

Thanks for everything, Paul.

http://starcasm.net/archives/374

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Very true. And I have two of his Newman's Own salad dressings in my fridge, which I'm about to apply to my salad.

I've tried all of the variations, but my favorite has always been the one that Newman and his Westport writer buddy A.E. Hotchner concocted lo these many years ago -- the olive oil and vinegar dressing.

[BottomLine2008]

I'm probably going to eat Paul's popcorn longer than I watch his popcorn movies ...

[StephenFox]

A Personal Memory of Paul Newman, and Obama Presidency Will Galvanize 30 Million American Idealists and Reformers ---new article by Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News

http://www.nowpublic.com/health/obama-presidency-will-galvanize-30-million-american-idealists-and-reformers-and-personal-memory-paul-newman

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Well, I suppose we could't get away from the election entirely ...

[BottomLine2008]

Of course not.

[BottomLine2008]

30 millions? That's a lot.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Where does that number come from?

[Frangelica]

Paul was always the most self-depricating, generous and funny-funny man. A forever family story was how, during his college days, he would eat chocolate cake for breakfast when and my cousin would come home to my aunt's on weekends. (Of course, if she knew they were coming, she'd always make sure to bake one.) He maintained that the only reason he gained success as an actor was because when he and Johnny, my equally handsome cousin, tried out for the class variety show, he got the Lone Ranger part while Johnny got Tonto, who's only lines were "Ugh, Quemo Sabe."

After he became famous, the comment that always defined him to me was when he said he wanted his epitaph to read,
"PAUL NEWMAN: ONCE A GREAT ACTOR UNTIL ONE DAY HIS EYES TURNED BROWN."

We will miss you, yet it wouldn't be so sad if it hadn't been so sweet.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

What a wonderful vignette!

[BottomLine2008]

So, who was your cousin? And what happened to him?

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

I don't think he ever threw a cell phone at anyone. And he gave up hundreds of millions of dollars by making Newman's Own a non-profit.

[BottomLine2008]

Well, who hasn't thrown a cell phone at someone? j/k

[Bitsko]

It goes without saying but Paul Newman was the classic case of an actor whom women wanted to sleep with and men wanted to hang out with.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Schwarzenegger put it more diplomatically, since he's not a governor and not a macho action movie star.

[BottomLine2008]

Schwarzenegger's "not" a governor? That's a typo, right?

[BottomLine2008]

He was the coolest. Great scene from Butch Cassidy. I love how he lulled Harvey, and the audience, in with his routine.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

I've always remembered that scene. I decided to use it instead of the end of the movie where he and Sundance are killed. But the one where they jump off the cliff -- "Hell, the fall will kill ya!" -- was a close second.

[BottomLine2008]

I'm going to find the cliff-jumping scene.

[BottomLine2008]

I see you got that scene!

[BottomLine2008]

"I'm back." Fast Eddie Felson. Love it.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Surprisingly low key ending for Scorsese. But very iconic.

[BottomLine2008]

I thought you might use the "50 eggs" scene from Cool Hand Luke. But I guess the banjo song about Jesus is the one to close out on.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

The 50 scenes is very long. The song about "Plastic Jesus" is not.

[hukkahukkabirninglove]

Paul Newman is one of my favorite actors of all time. And one of my favorite people, too. An A list celebrity because of his acting career and his good works, he could have been a scoundrel like some of todays celebs are (are you listening Russell Crow, etc.?) Instead, he appeared to be grounded in common sense, impeccable behavior,& a regard and respect for his family and fellow human beings. He was the definition of class & intelligence.

I am very sad that he has passed on, My best wishes to his family and close friends.

He was a good cut of steak, not cheap hamburger!

[BottomLine2008]

That's another cool guy line from Newman about being true to his wife.

[southernoldie]

Newman was a good cut of steak because in this world of the Republican power, with everyone wanting what's good for only me, me, me, this man made fools of people like that. He believed in helping those less fortunate, like he said, he developed an all natural food to sell that he gave to charity, while the crooked food industry fills their products with harmful ingredients. He cared for our environment, unlike the current power, and he cared for people & his family. And, what an actor & gentleman. He was called a liberal & how proud he should be of that. He will be sadly missed and I know that his family knows that the world will be less fortunate without him.