Paul Newman Dies at 83

For all of Newman's fine acting skills, race car driving and philanthropy, perhaps he truly did live out one of the famous lines written by William Goldman for Butch Cassidy: "I've got vision and the rest of the world wears bifocals." He truly had vision and lived it to the benefit of countless others.
Being an actor with undeniable sex appeal was surely not Newman’s only fame, but it was one of his firsts. After attending numerous colleges, including Ohio University, Kenyon College and Yale Drama School, he headed to the New York Actors’ Studio. His famous set of baby blues and classic good looks got him numerous television appearances and his first Broadway debut in “Picnic.”
The following year Newman stared in his first major motion picture, “The Silver Chalice,” which did quite miserably. He considered it to be a failure and even took out a full-page ad in a trade paper apologizing for his poor performance. Luckily, Newman didn’t relinquish after this.
His first major hit was “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” in which he played boxer Rocky Graziano. Critics loved this new face and soon Newman was a leader in the box offices during the 1960s. Such hits as, “The Long, Hot Summer,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Hustler” and “Cool Hand Luke” followed. Newman had made a name for himself.
After “Cool Hand Luke,” Newman decided to try his hand in directing. His behind-the-camera talent was just as good as when he was in front of it. Newman won a much deserved Golden Globe for directing “Rachel, Rachel” which stared his second wife Joanne Woodward. Little did he know, but many more awards were to come.
1969 brought one of the most famous duos in the motion picture industry, Robert Redford and Paul Newman. The two were magic together. Their friendship was evident in their films, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting.”
Newman continued to act until his late years, which several may argue were some of his best movies. “The Color of Money,” “The Verdict” and “Message in a Bottle” were all done later in Newman’s life, but by then his experience and relaxed nature made these movies shine.
While filming a less known movie, “Winning,” Newman took on a love of race car driving. He began competitive racing at the age of 70. He has said that one of his favorite sounds is that of a V-8 engine. It wasn’t enough for him to race, but he submerged himself in the lifestyle also. Newman owns one third of the Champ Car auto racing team, Newman-Haas-Lanigan. He once said, “I will continue to get behind the wheel of a race car as long as I am able.” He raced until he was 80 years old. A man with as much courage and drive as Newman wouldn’t stop at just acting and racing.
Newman had always been a charitable man, but it wasn’t until his only son died from a drug overdose in 1978 that he began doing more. Newman’s first project was setting up the Scott Newman Center for Drug Abuse Prevention. Newman’s work did not stop there. In 1982, Newman created his own food company called Newman’s Own. After starting the company, Newman had this to say about it, “When I realized I was going to have to be a whore, to put my face on the label, I decided that the only way I could do it was to give away all the money we make. Over the years, that ethical stance has given us a 30 per cent boost. One in three customers buys my products because all the profits go to good causes and the rest buy the stuff because it is good.” The company has given over $200 million dollars of their profits to charitable causes. Last year Newman signed ownership of the company over to the charity.
Much of the money raised by Newman’s Own goes to his Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps which he set up in 1988. His camps are designed as a place for terminally ill children to go and enjoy things like kayaking, horseback riding, archery etc. all while receiving 24-hour medical treatment. Over 100,000 children have attended Newman’s Hole in the Wall camps so far.
Newman also helped found the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP). CECP is an association of CEO’s and other important corporate figures who raise awareness for the need of higher quality corporate patronage. He, along with the CECP, donates to numerous causes and charities throughout the world. Newman has donated money to cancer research, refugees in Kosovo, and the Canary Foundation to name a few. A few years ago Newman flew to London and performed as a clown for sick and disabled children. His efforts to save the world never did cease.
Newman lived a life that many are in awe of. He had it all, fame, fortune and good looks. It’s how he used that fame to help others that impressed the world. Anna Grimm, a freshman at the University of South Carolina, was only a toddler when Newman rose to fame but she still remembers his fondly. “He has always been a role model for me because he stayed grounded despite his fame,” says Grimm. “Not a lot of celebrities do that. I have always admired him for his talent, but also his way of giving back so much.” It’s his compassion for others that makes Newman one of the greats.
Newman once said, “I’d like to be remembered as a guy who tried- who tried to be a part of his times, tried to help people communicate with one another, tried to find some decency in his own life, tried to extend himself as a human being.” He continued, “Someone who isn’t complacent, who doesn’t cop out.” Newman is not only remembered as a guy who tried, but as one who significantly succeeded.

Casey Aldridge is a senior journalism major at Texas State University.