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Paul Newman, 1925-2008
Wow. Even though I knew I would be writing this tribute before long, it is still a very rude shock to wake up on a Saturday morning and find that Paul Newman is no longer with us.
Paul Newman is one of those actors whose presence is so great, whose force is so undeniable - and I just noticed I’m writing in the present tense, but you know what? That’s still appropriate. Because as long as his performances are still playing on a screen somewhere, Paul Newman is still with us.
It’s difficult to know where to begin in eulogizing Paul Newman. Perhaps the best compliment I can pay the Ohio native is that he never let me down. Even if a movie he appeared in was less than great, Newman never was.
When Entertainment Weekly in 1997 put together a book of the greatest stars of all time, the stars were listed by category. Newman was one of the “Leading Men,” and he was the first one listed. Coincidence? I highly doubt it.
For each performer, EW listed their essential films: Newman’s were The Hustler, Hud, Cool Hand Luke Slap Shot and The Verdict. I can’t speak to The Hustler (shame on me), Hud or Slap Shot, but the others belong there for sure.
Here are a few of my other favorite Newman performances. The list is by NO means comprehensive; it’s only meant as a highlights reel.
Cool Hand Luke: I saw this for the first time just this past summer, at the Victoria Theatre’s Cool Films series, and now I’m even more grateful for that opportunity. What a complex, magnetic performance.
The Hudsucker Proxy: Betcha no one else lists this one. It may not be one of his great performances, but it’s fun to see his gruffness amid the Coen brothers’ zaniness.
Road to Perdition: I jumped about a foot in my seat at the scene when he slapped his hand down on the table and said “You would like to apologize? Try again.”
Cars: He plays a race car. I don’t care what anyone says about the film - Newman, who absolutely adored racing, couldn’t possibly have gone out on a better note.
What are your favorite films/memories of Paul Newman? Here’s his filmography.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Tributes
Comments
By ME
September 29, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
Paul Newman was a great guy not just a great actor. He stood for so much more than acting. He will be missed on so many levels. My favorite is Hud or Cool Hand. He was fantastic in those movies!By Kevin
September 28, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
Never saw him in a performance I didn`t like. The man was truly one of the greats. Young actors today should model themselves after not only his acting, but also the way he lived his life.By Mike
September 28, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Hombre, Hud, Cool Hand Luke,The VerdictBy Randy
September 28, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
Nobody’s Fool is, in my opinion, a highly underrated performace by Paul. You will be missed.By RAP
September 28, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
Paul Newman was an American original who will never be replaced. Brad Pitt-please!! Another great performance was in “Somebody Up There Likes Me”, in which he portrayed prize fighter Rocky Graziano. He and Joanne celebrated their 50th anniversary this year - has to be a Hollywood record.By Roger
September 27, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
A life well lived. No one has mentioned one of my favorites - another one he did with Joanne Woodward: “From the Terrace”.By mary
September 27, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
His terrific life as an actor was eclipsed only by his devotion to his wife of 50 + years! His comment - “I have steak at home - why would I go out for hamburger”? What a class act!!!By Derwood
September 27, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
My favorites are Cool Hand Luke, The Sting, The Hustler, The Color of Money, Absence of Malice, and of course Cars.By Mick Pavelka
September 27, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
Wow,what a loss! My brother Bud Pavelka, is a look alike to Paul. They met many times, and Bud, saw him race and has pictures of himself in Paul’s cars. Paul was a gentleman, and a wonderful actor. Funny though, Paul will live on, as Bud still looks exactly like him. They even looked alike when the were much younger. We are a much richer society for having Paul in our midst. Rest in peace.By Allie D
September 27, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
So sad. I loved him. What a great actor and humanitarian he was. My favorites of his were Cool Hand Luke, The Hustler, The Sting, Butch Cassidy, and The Road to Perdition. I also loved him in Anybody’s Fool, which was Jessica Tandy’s last film, if I remember.By JT
September 27, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this
Like those above, I also enjoyed Hud and Cool Hand Luke. Who could forget The Long, Hot Summer or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? There seemed to be an undercurrent of emotion in those performances that made the movies electric. Unlike some “villain-type” characters that are barely stomachable, Newman always seemed to bring a humanity to those he portrayed that made them not seem as unlikeable and kept me watching.By L Moore
September 27, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
What an actor & a man! I wish the young & not so young people of today, would have had him as a role model. His Charitable work alone, is so to be admired. My favorite movies were; Butch Cassidy, Hud, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Color of Money,The Verdict.What a beautiful man, to just look at! Thank you God, you did a wonderful job on him.By Stella Nixxon
September 27, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Paul Newman was my all time favorite actor . I could watch him all day and never get bored . I dont think anyone other than Paul could have played the part of Cool Hand Luke . He was magnetic in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof . Brilliant in Butch and Sundance .. He will be missedBy Dennis
September 27, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
Will we ever see a movie like “The Sting” again? What a complex plot. I wonder if today’s audience would sit still long enough to comprehend it.By painfultruth
September 27, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
When attending Shaker Heights High School, Paul worked at my uncles delicatessen as a waiter. He and my cousin Sally (now 77) were good friends. When he would come to Cleveland, he would have dinner together with our entire family. Great guy; too bad he’s gone…By EdyLynn
September 27, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
I like some of his “bad” movies”. I watched “Harry and Son” last night.He and his wife, Joanne Woodward, were so good in this one together it made up for the crappy other stuff. “Slapshot” was a hoot as well. So good looking, funny and giving. What more could you want? Joanne Woodward had it so good.By tbill
September 27, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Hud, Cool Hand Luke, Slap Shot. He once said that his Slap Shot character was most like how he is in real life. Who can replace this icon? Brad Pitt?? Never. What a shame we’ve lost such a great talent.By by jerry phillips
September 27, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
I think he was a great actor and he will be sadley missed buy the ones who new himBy S. Vienna
September 27, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
RIP Paul, what a great actor and person. Favorite movie would have to be Butch Cassidy hands down. Could he be any more handsome. Great person too, look at all the charities he continuously dontated to. We will miss him.By Frenzy88
September 27, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
I attended several races he was in down in Georgia many years ago. I was invited to a luncheon he attended. He was a racer when he was there and very quick. He went above and beyond with everything he did.By Big Fan
September 27, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
The Verdict is one of my favorite all time films. Newman was in a class of his own.By vick
September 27, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Cool Hand Luke.By Jamestown Joe
September 27, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
The Hustler, with Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George Scott and Piper Laurie is a classic. Paul Newman should have won an oscar for his portrayal of the character, Fast Eddie Felson as he did in the sequel, The Color of Money.By pete
September 27, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
One of the lines I often use came from a Paul Newman movie, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” from (and I had to look it up) 1969, “Used enough dynamite there, Butch?” After I say it, it reminds me of the salad dressing, the movie festival and all the other things that Paul was part of. As Eric said, as long as his movies are available to view, he’ll always be with us.By Deb Gaskill
September 27, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
I just saw ‘The Sting’ for the umpteenth time on TV recently and couldn’t believe how fresh it still was. No one will ever come as close.