Saturday brought sad news of the passing of the incomparably great actor and humanitarian Paul Newman at the age of 83 from cancer. One of my favorite actors, Newman had a long successful Academy Award winning career in film with roles that spanned over five decades. Newman served in the US Navy during World War II as a gunner. Later in his life Newman was an owner and enthusiast in motor sports. His greatest contributions were as a philanthropist, giving millions to charity and worthy causes for years. Newman was also a fervant political activist who worked for a variety of progressive causes. As I matured, I came to greatly respect Newman's work and enjoy his many films, often trying to attend their debuts in the theatre. Over his long career in film he is nearly unmatched in his craftsmanship and consummate expertise as an actor. Among his nearly 65 films that are most noteworthy are the Silver Chalice;The Long, Hot Summer; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Exodus; The Hustler; Hud; Harper; Cool Hand Luke; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; WUSA; The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean; The Macksintosh Man; The Sting; The Towering Inferno; The Drowning Pool; Slapshot; Fort Apache the Bronx; Absence of Malice; The Verdict; The Color of Money; Fat Man and Little Boy; Blaze; Mr. and Mrs. Bridge; The Hudsucker Proxy; Nobody's Fool; Twilight; Message in a Bottle; Where the Money is; Road to Perdition; Our Town; and Empire Falls. My personal favorites are Slapshot; Road to Perdition; Cool Hand Luke; and Nobody's Fool. Newman played roles that were often described as being anti -heroes. He disdained the glitter and pomp of the Hollywood lifestyle and lived away from it in rural Connecticut. Newman is survived by his wife of over fifty years, actress Joanne Woodward; five daughters, and two grandchildren..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Newman
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/movies/28paul.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/movies/28newman.html
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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-newman28-2008sep28,0,7543479.story
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-09-27-newman-obit_N.htm
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http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org/
http://blogs.usatoday.com/entertainment/paul_newman/index.html
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2008-09-27-newman-timeline_N.htm
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