Paul Newman - 1925-2008

[Zachary Smith]

Wow. A true legend has passed.

RIP, Mr. Newman.

You know, it's getting to be that time. Eventually, names like Eastwood, Nicholson, Freeman, Hackman, Beatty and Redford will be coming up too.

You're absolutely correct. I'm dreading those days. I felt like I got gut punched when I heard the first reports of Morgan Freeman's car accident.

You know, it wasn't all that long ago that I remember when we were losing people like James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Bette Davis, John Wayne, Vincent Price, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Lee Marvin . . . on and on and on . . .

They were such giants, it seemed no one could follow. Now, another generation is reaching it's twilight. The wheel just keeps turning.

 

[Aaron McGuire]

"I'd like to be remembered as a guy who tried — tried to be 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. Someone who isn't complacent, who doesn't cop out."​

Paul Newman was one of the greats. A great actor, racecar driver, philanthropist and, from what I've heard, a great husband and father. The world has lost a wonderful man today.

Godspeed, Paul

Unfortunately retail stores have already latched onto this. I was at the mall today and stopped by FYE. They uped all the prices on films staring him today.

That's just sick. Not surprising, but still sick.

Aaron McGuire

 

[Meredith]

I am kidding I know the diff between Randy Newman and Paul Newman for crissakes.

Paul Newman is this guy right?

http://images.google.com/images?q=seinfeld%20newman&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

 

[GMac]

One of the greats of his generation - not a bad way to remembered.....

R.I.P

GM

 

[TGTheodore]

I am kidding I know the diff between Randy Newman and Paul Newman for crissakes.

Regardless if you knew or not, the tone of the post was still inappropriate. And the way it was written did NOT tip off the fact you were "kidding".

--Ted

 

[jkladis]

Wow. A true legend has passed.

RIP, Mr. Newman.

You know, it's getting to be that time. Eventually, names like Eastwood, Nicholson, Freeman, Hackman, Beatty and Redford will be coming up too.

You're absolutely correct. I'm dreading those days. I felt like I got gut punched when I heard the first reports of Morgan Freeman's car accident.

You know, it wasn't all that long ago that I remember when we were losing people like James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Bette Davis, John Wayne, Vincent Price, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Lee Marvin . . . on and on and on . . .

They were such giants, it seemed no one could follow. Now, another generation is reaching it's twilight. The wheel just keeps turning.

Strangely comforting that it manages to stay pretty far spread out. John Wayne passed over 30 years ago, Jimmy Stewart -- around 10 I think.

I'm 32, but far too many of my peers never get it when I'm quoting Butch and Sundance, which I love to do.

 

[Neroon]

I was momentarily saddened when I read this a short while ago. But only momentarily. He does represent the passing of a generation, but look at what he did in his life:
- Won an Oscar, nominated for several others,
- created a beautiful collection of films, "The Sting" is among my favorites of all time.
- stayed married to the same woman for an unreal length of time by Hollywood standards
- was able to indulge side interests such as auto racing and cooking
- helped an awful lot of people through his foundation

THAT is a darned full life. Most men could only deam of living out like that. So here's to the legend of Paul Newman. The man whose baby blues may be dimmed, but whose set a good high standard of how to live.

 

[CorporalClegg]

One of my favorites.

He will be missed.

 

[arch101]

I'm finding it amazing that his passing seems to be getting more (and prolonged) note in racing circles than anywhere else. This was exactly what he would have wanted as he saw his philanthropies as a responsibility and felt his only real achievement was as a racer. He felt that acting was the means by which he raced. I would say that 90% of the people remembering him on the net are from racing circles, not hollywood. Also, his philanthropy inspired many racers to do similar works of charity. However, not many hollywood types similarly followed his lead. Most racers knew the end was near when he took a few final laps in his racecar at his beloved Lime Rock Park 4 weeks ago. Personally, I'll always remember him for The Towering Inferno. He certainly made Architects look good. No, not for designing an unsafe building, but for playing an Architect as less a flaky designer and more as a technically diverse building expert. His take on Architects was one of the most realistic portrayals ever in film. He definitely must have done some research with real Architects before making the film. As with his racing, he always carefully studied all the technical nuances. I'll miss him at the track.

 

[Kira's Mom]

You know, it's getting to be that time. Eventually, names like Eastwood, Nicholson, Freeman, Hackman, Beatty and Redford will be coming up too.

Don't want to think about that- Freeman is my dad's age.

 

[Samurai8472]

You know, it's getting to be that time. Eventually, names like Eastwood, Nicholson, Freeman, Hackman, Beatty and Redford will be coming up too.

Watch Jack be the only one left

 

[PKTrekGirl]

You know, when you think about all the great movies he's done, consider this. The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Sting. Four great movies...four American classics. Famous actors are lucky if they have two American classics. Newman had four.

I think he had more than that. Certainly Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is an important classic. He won his Oscar for The Color of Money. And The Verdict was also an Oscar caliber film.

And when you look at some of his other films, there are alot of gems there: Sweet Bird of Youth, Hud, Absence of Malice. All great films.

 

[J.T.B.]

I remember him winning his class in 24 Hours of Daytona in 1995, and thinking "Wow, Paul Newman is 70!?"

What can you really say about someone like that? Wartime navy aircrewman. Highly skilled race driver. Competitive team owner. Accomplished businessman. Superb actor. Nixon "enemy." Respected humanitarian.

Of all his movies I have loved over the years — and there have been many — my favorite is Hud. A great modern Western, the first Larry McMurtry screen adaptation, beautifully and sparsely directed by Martin Ritt. Three brilliant performances: Newman, Patricia Neal and Melvyn Douglas (Neal and Douglas won Oscars). Later Newman remarked that he couldn't comprehend young filmgoers actually admiring the character of Hud Bannon. Good looking, confident and cool, Hud had no moral center, was a completely "unprincipled man." The opposite of the way Mr. Newman lived his life.

Hud is on the TCM schedule for October 11, if they don't run it sooner as a tribute. Very highly recommended.

--Justin

 

[Neroon]

As uncomfortable as Mr. Newman was with his movie star status, his films are what I know best about him. He seemed to be liek Henry Fonda, turnign in great performance after great performance only to be passed over for a Best Actor Oscar. When he finally did win it for "The Color of Money", my first reaction was "Finally! What took you guys so long?" Personally, I liked his turns in "The Hustler", "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Verdict" better. This award - though no less appreciated - seemed to be a way of the Academy saying "this is to make up for all those times you were passed over".

Heh.... I'd have enjoyed asking him about his time doing the voice of "Doc Hudson" in "Cars". Just to see hwo he compared that to being on screen itself.

 

[TedShatner10]

I'm saddened but not surprised by Paul Newman and Charlton Heston passing in 2008 due to their reasonably advanced ages and declining health this decade (with poor Heston going increasingly gagga since that Bowling With Columbine fiasco).

However popular celebrities from both sides of the pond like Don S. Davis, Mark Speight, Isaac Hayes, Jeremy Beadle, Bernie Mac, Richard Wright, Don LaFontaine, Heath Ledger, Brad Renfro and even George Carlin (to name but a few) were all not so old when they died prematurely this year, and dying only months, weeks or even days apart from each other, making 2008 seemingly a worse year than most for celebrity deaths.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

In case anyone is interested in seeing some Paul Newman films, uncut and commercial free, TCM has preempted their previously scheduled programming for 24 hours on October 12 & 13 and is instead honoring Paul Newman with a 24-hour marathon of his films.

Here is the schedule:

Sunday, October 12 Program for TCM
6:00 AM The Rack
8:00 AM Until They Sail
10:00 AM Torn Curtain
12:15 PM Exodus
3:45 PM Sweet Bird of Youth
6:00 PM Hud
8:00 PM Somebody Up There Likes Me
10:00 PM Cool Hand Luke
12:15 AM Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
2:15 AM Rachel, Rachel
4:00 AM The Outrage

Get those DVR's ready!

 

[cardinal biggles]

^That's awesome. Thanks for posting that schedule.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Thanks for the head's up! I'll probably record at least a couple of those.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ Glad I could be of help, guys!

And I must say, TCM is really going all out for this. Whenever a classic star passes away, they preempt some time...but it's usually not an entire 24-hour block. I think for Cyd Charisse they preempted enough time for 3 or 4 movies. I think when Charlton Heston passed away they did about 4 or 5 (although that was a longer time period than it sounds because of Ben Hur, etc.)

I can't recall a death in the past couple of years for which they preemped an entire 24 hour period. I'm glad they did though - he certainly deserves it!

 

[Kira's Mom]

In case anyone is interested in seeing some Paul Newman films, uncut and commercial free, TCM has preempted their previously scheduled programming for 24 hours on October 12 & 13 and is instead honoring Paul Newman with a 24-hour marathon of his films.

Here is the schedule:

Sunday, October 12 Program for TCM
6:00 AM The Rack
8:00 AM Until They Sail
10:00 AM Torn Curtain
12:15 PM Exodus
3:45 PM Sweet Bird of Youth
6:00 PM Hud
8:00 PM Somebody Up There Likes Me
10:00 PM Cool Hand Luke
12:15 AM Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
2:15 AM Rachel, Rachel
4:00 AM The Outrage

Get those DVR's ready!

Excellent.