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You are here: Home / Open Threads / RIP Paul Newman

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32Comments

  4. 4.

    dr. bloor

    Oof.

    The last thing the world needs now is to lose a great humanitarian, great actor and all-around class act like he was.

  5. 5.

    Napoleon

    A great supporter of liberal causes and for me, a huge auto racing fan (open wheel/formula car specifically), I followed his team for years, and in fact even was entered in an event (I use to drive) at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course that he was entered in with a production based Nissan (if I recall correctly).

    RIP

  6. 6.

    Tom

    It’s amazing how many iconic characters he helped create: Fast Eddie Felson, Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy.

    But I’ll always remember him best as Reggie Dunlop.

  7. 7.

    Napoleon

    PS, interesting fact on Newman, he almost never signed autographs, basically on the theory that is wasn’t worthy and felt he was lucky to be born with good looks and all. Both my mom and sister-in-law, on seperate occasions at the race track were turned down for autographs (although I was at a race related event once where he had signed a helmet or suit or something for a charity raffle).

  8. 8.

    TR

    Dammit. A class act, a liberal stalwart, and a major humanitarian.

    My wife volunteered at one of his Hole in the Wall camps for kids with life-threatening disabilities. One of the many many great things he did without asking for any praise in return.

  9. 9.

    Comrade Cris Ivanov

    Awww, that’s too bad.

    I always gauge my reaction to the deaths of entertainers based on where they are in their career. If they’re still productive, like Kurt Vonnegut or Otis Redding, it’s a heartbreaker. If their career is behind them, it’s still sad, but more a time for reflection than for tearing of hair.

    Newman’s is a third case altogether. Although he has continued to act (and his performance in 2002’s Road to Perdition was no cameo), the glory days of his acting ended somewhere around The Color of Money (and his attendant “make-up” Oscar that he actually earned four years earlier in The Verdict).

    But with the foundation of Newman’s Own, I feel like he really established his legacy to future generations of non-film-buffs who won’t remember him as the sexiest man alive, but will benefit from his devotion to charity and appreciation of quality.

    Regarding those “second careers” I was going to call Newman the Jimmy Carter of acting, but that would imply the Carter’s presidency was on par with Cool Hand Luke and Hud. So never mind.

  10. 10.

    Laura W

    Very sad indeed. I always buy his coffee and salsas and was a huge fan of his charitable efforts.
    But when he added the pet food line and gave all the monies to animal welfare and rescue groups, he totally got my adoration.
    Unfortunately, my furs will not eat that good-for-them organic stuff.
    It’s 9 Lives or nothing for the cats, and since two of them are geriatrics, I’m just happy they eat, I guess.
    ugh.

  11. 11.

    w vincentz

    I will miss him. When he raced against my cousin’s team at Lime Rock back in the Camel GT days, his pit was one up from ours. His competative spirit was admired.
    I’ll celebrate his life as one filled with passion, respected by many, and generous to all.
    RIP Mr Newman.

  14. 14.

    trollhattan

    A great American and a true Mensch. We’re lucky to have had him for so long, vital and involved to the end. My sympathies to his family.

    Fortunately for us all, his legacy will enhance the lives of generations to come. I can’t wait to show some of his films to my young daughter some day soon.

  16. 16.

    rob!

    a great human being, by all accounts. took his vast wealth and fame and used it to help less fortunate people. what more can you ask?

    our dog and cat eat Paul Newman brand dog food, so they loved him, too.

    best movie? The Verdict. that movie f**king rocks.

  18. 18.

    FLILF Hunter

    What a sad loss.

    I’ll never forget when I first saw The Sting. It was the first time I ever really felt blown away and excited by a movie.

    Restin’ in peace, boss. Restin’ in peace.

  20. 20.

    Onihanzo

    My favorite was always Hombre, an obscure Western he did with Richard Boone that was written by Elmore Leonard. Rent it if you haven’t seen it.

    Sad that he’s gone. He was a class act of the highest caliber.

  21. 21.

    b. hussein canuckistani

    I was just watching The Sting last night and thinking he had more cool than anyone else around. A sad loss, but he had a pretty good life, didn’t he?

  22. 22.

    Jimmm

    Okay, ghoul alert, but Paul would have wanted it this way: Newman’s death will knock last night’s debate off the front pages, but not before most respected pundits awarded the win to Obama. Ceaseless commentary on Newman’s life will inevitably touch on progressive causes.

    Win. From a bitter loss. Dude gave away a billion bucks from a business he started by accident. That is amazing.

  24. 24.

    Delia

    He died in his home, far away from Tinseltown, at a good old age. He had a long marriage and many children, did very fine work which we will all remember. He used his reputation to support many good causes, and the profits from his food products all support charity. I love his spaghetti sauce and my dog loves his biscuits. A thoroughly admirable life.

  25. 25.

    charlotte

    He was SO good in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and in The Verdict. I saw Butch Cassidy at least six times at the age of 13. At a time when one had to go to the cinema to see a movie. Totally in love with him. Totally. And he was married to the fantabulous Joanne. Wonderful actor and a true American aristocrat, in the best sense of the word.

  26. 26.

    YellowJournalism

    Wonderful man. Beautiful inside and out up to the end.

    My favorite roles for him were in The Hudsucker Proxy, The Hustler, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. (Okay, the last one is also because he’s just so pretty to look at in that movie and the fact that I love the way everyone throws the word “mundacity” around.) Also, I think Where the Money Is is a great, overlooked film of his. The man had real heat and chemistry with Linda Fiorentino.

    I haven’t seen Slap Shot yet, something I think is illegal here in Canada. I think I’ll have hubby pop in his DVD of it tonight and we’ll have a Paul Newman night.

  27. 27.

    Singularity

    Even though he led a long and very worthy life, and had all the success and happiness a man could want, it is still too soon. This news actually made me sad, and generally I could care less about celebrity deaths.

    An amazing actor with an amazing body of work. No one has mentioned it, but the work he did in Absence of Malice is a brilliant portrait of contained and focused anger. And of course Harper, Hud, The Hustler, The Sting, Butch Cassidy, and the unforgettable Slapshot. Old time Hockey!

    I wish he had 80 more years.

  28. 28.

    Krista

    I generally don’t get worked up about celebrity deaths, but this one hits hard. He was just such a class act, and his marriage was so inspirational.

    My sympathies to Joanne and the rest of his family. He will definitely be missed.

  29. 29.

    Wanda

    My sympathy to family. It’s sad sad day…
    I’ll miss you Paul….
    R.I.P.

    “spieszmy sie kochac ludzi…
    tak szybko odchodza…”

  30. 30.

    ShouldKnowBetter

    What everyone else said. I’ll have to pick up Empire Falls, he and Joanna are both in it.

    Also, the Newman’s Own Espresso Chip Cookies are the best.

  32. 32.

    movie fan

    it’s hard not to admire Paul Newman for putting his money to work in such productive ways, such as his Newman’s Own line–high quality stuff and the proceeds go to good causes… very smart.

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