Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, and humanitarian whose extraordinary career spanned six decades and made him one of Hollywood’s most enduring and beloved leading men. Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Newman was known for his piercing blue eyes, natural charisma, and deep commitment to social causes. He passed away on September 26, 2008, at his farmhouse in Westport, Connecticut, at the age of 83, from lung cancer. His estate was estimated at $150 million.
Newman studied at the Yale School of Drama before his film breakthrough in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956). He subsequently became one of Hollywood’s top stars with performances in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), The Hustler (1961), Hud (1963), Cool Hand Luke (1967), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), and The Sting (1973). Newman received 10 Academy Award nominations and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The Color of Money (1986). He was also a dedicated racing driver who competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Paul Newman married actress Joanne Woodward on January 29, 1958, in a partnership celebrated as one of Hollywood’s great love stories. Together they had three daughters. Following the death of his son Scott Newman from a drug overdose in 1978, Paul and Joanne founded the Scott Newman Center, a drug and alcohol abuse prevention organization.
In 1982, Paul Newman co-founded Newman’s Own, a food company that donates all post-tax profits to charity. Since its founding, Newman’s Own has donated over $600 million to thousands of charities worldwide. He established the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1988, providing free summer experiences for children with serious illnesses. He is remembered as both a consummate artist and a man who used his success with uncommon generosity and grace.