Paul Newman

There are actors, superstars and icons. While serving the in profession of the first and certainly qualified for the second, Paul Newman is the mold that created the third. Actor, philanthropist, salad dressing and sauce maker, racecar driver, do you need more evidence?

Paul Leonard Newman was born January 26, 1925 in Shaker Heights, Ohio. His father was a successful sporting goods storeowner. In his college days, Newman would show some of his father’s entrepreneurial spirit by establishing a campus laundry service. Newman joined the Navy and served in World War II before his discharge in 1946. After the Navy, Newman enrolled in Kenyan College, graduated, then spent a year at Yale Drama School. After Yale, Newman headed to New York City to attend the famed New York Actors Studio.

Newman married Jackie Witte in 1949, the couple had three children together before divorcing in 1958. 1958 was the same year Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward got married, beginning a classic Hollywood romance that remains strong to this day. The couple is fast approaching their 50^th wedding anniversary. Newman and Woodward have three children.

Newman started out on stage and television before making his feature film debut in 1954’s The Silver Chalice. So disappointed in his performance, Newman took out a full-page ad in a trade paper apologizing to anyone who had seen it. 

Some of Newman’s non-acting accomplishments include winning four Sports Car Club of America national titles and making the Guiness Book of World Records as the oldest driver to win a professionally sanctioned race. In 1971, Newman found himself listed as number 19 on President Nixon’s enemy list, an accomplishment Newman ranks as among his greatest.

Newman has been nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning once, for the following: Best Actor in a Leading Role – Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Best Actor in a Leading Role – The Hustler (1961), Best Actor in a Leading Role – Hud (1963), Best Actor in a Leading Role – Cool Hand Luke (1967), Best Picture – Rachel, Rachel (1968), Best Actor in a Leading Role – Absence of Malice (1981), Best Actor in a Leading Role – The Verdict (1982), Best Actor in a Leading Role – The Color of Money (1986), Best Actor in a Leading Role – Nobody’s Fool (1994) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role - The Road to Perdition (2003). Newman won the Oscar for The Color of Money. In addition to his best acting honors, Newman has two honorary Oscars to his credit. In 1986 received an honorary award for his achievements in film and in 1994, Newman was the recipient of The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for “recognition of his many memorable and compelling screen performances and for his personal integrity and dedication to the craft.”

Paul Newman has starred in 76 movie and television roles in his career. In addition to his acting career, Newman has directed six movies: Rachel, Rachel (1968), Sometimes a Great Notion (1971), The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972), The Shadow Box (1980 – TV), Harry & Son (1984) and The Glass Menagerie (1987).

Paul Newman and his friend and partner, A.E. Hotchner, found Newman’s Own in 1982. Initially selling Newman’s personal recipe salad dressing, the company has added spaghetti sauce, popcorn, salsa and more to its lineup including a line of organically made products. All profits from the sale of Newman’s Own are donated to charity. To date, Newman’s Own has given away over $200 million dollars to thousands of charities. Newman and Hotchner write about their company and its charitable mission in their book, Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good.

One of the recipients of those donations is the Newman founded The Hole in the Wall Gang camps for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The first camp opened in 1988 in Ashford, Connecticut. There are now eight camps total; five in the United States, along with one each in Ireland, the UK and France with more to come. According to the camp’s website, nearly 100,000 children from 31 counties have attendance The Hole in the Wall Gang camps.

Paul Newman lives with his wife in Westport, Connecticut.

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