by Jim McGrath

Created on: September 28, 2008

Remembering Paul Newman

Last night, we lost one of the greatest actors and humanitarians ever. Sadly, Paul Newman passed away.

Having never met the man, it would be ridiculous to feel personal loss. However, he played a few roles that got my attention.. such as "Sully" in Nobody's Fool, the drunken lawyer in "The Verdict," and Eddie in "The Hustler," which I never saw. But, I did see his reprisal of Eddie in "The Color of Money," and it won him a long deserved Oscar.

Actually, all of this commentary is nonsense, because my favorite Paul Newman role comes from my favorite movie. To me, Newman as Reggie Dunlap, the player/coach of the sagging Charlestown Chiefs is the epitome of this man's acting work. At face value, it looked like the actor had taken on a cheap role in a low-budget comedy, and some critics may have wondered why a man of his stature had stooped lower than his expectations and ability to play a minor league hockey coach. In my mind, he was brilliant.

I was shocked today to see an old interview between Newman and Gene Shalit in 1994 where he credited "Slap Shot" right next to "The Sting" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" as his most memorable movies. "Slap Shot" was crude and politically incorrect, but hysterical. More importantly, Newman had to become a believable hockey player at 51 years of age. It looked like he learned how to skate like a true hockey player, but it should not have been a surprise seeing as he was a professional race car driver at the same time. Acting had become boring to him, and has the true "he man" that he was, Newman found other outlets.

Regardless of his acting, he was married to Joanne Woodward for over 50 years, which amazed the Hollywood press. Of course, the couple made sure to keep their marriage strong by avoiding the press by living in Connecticut. His most famous comment about his marriage offended some, but why chase the "hamburger" broads of Hollywood when he had "steak" at home?

While on the farm, Newman dabbled in the kitchen, and made a spaghetti sauce and salad dressing that impressed his friends. His culinary hobby turned into a charitable enterprise that has raised over $200 million dollars for charity. Coupled with the camps for less privileged children that Mr. Newman and Miss Woodward set up, it is safe to say that the "Newman's Own" brand has been the best charitable business organization in American history.

Tonight, the world is sadder. Godspeed and rest well, Mr. Newman.

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