It’s a sad Saturday night as I write this. I don’t watch the news so I wasn’t aware that Paul Newman died Friday.
I grew up watching his movies and reading about his life beyond them. Newman was a great actor and director, but he was a brilliant human being—a much more important role, although you wouldn’t know it in today’s celebrity-hyped world.
His amazing 50 year marriage to Joanne Woodward is proof that marriage is dependent on the people involved, not outside circumstances.
But it was his political stands and philanthropic efforts that always resonated most with me.
Newman’s Own donates all profits and has given away more than $200 million. He founded Newman’s Hole in the Wall camps with 11 around the world—135,000 gravely ill children have attended them free of charge.
And now, a few words from Paul…
“Why would I go out for a hamburger when [I] have steak at home?” (In reference to why he never strayed.)
“Who’s to say who’s an expert?” (Certainly somehting to keep in mind the next time you get ‘expert’ advice.)
“The embarrassing thing is that the salad dressing is outgrossing my films.” (Happily so. He couldn’t donate the film profits.)
“I picture my epitaph: “Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown”. (Failure never even came close.)
“If you don’t have enemies, you don’t have character.” (Newman proved this one totally wrong.)
“You can’t be as old as I am without waking up with a surprised look on your face every morning: ‘Holy Christ, whaddya know – I’m still around!’ It’s absolutely amazing that I survived all the booze and smoking and the cars and the career.” (But not for nearly long enough.)
Goodbye, Paul, you will be sorely missed!
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Image credit: danperry.com CC license
