by Paul Rance

Created on: March 22, 2010

American film star Paul Newman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 26th, 1925. After serving in World War Two, Newman studied acting at Yale University, and was taught by Lee Strasberg in New York City. He then went on Broadway.

Paul Newman's first film was 'The Silver Chalice (1954)', but he really made his name in movies playing boxer Rocky Graziano in 'Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)', and as Brick Pollitt (his first Best Actor Oscar nomination) in the Tennessee Williams adaptation 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958)'.

It was in the 1960s that Paul Newman was to become one of the biggest film stars on Earth, and his famous roles included the hustling pool player Eddie Felson in 'The Hustler (1961)', the spirited prisoner Lucas 'Luke' Jackson in 'Cool Hand Luke (1967)', and as Butch Cassidy in the most famous of all buddy movies, 'Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)'.

The 1970s saw Paul Newman appear in two of the decade's biggest blockbusters - 'The Sting (1973) (again appearing with 'Butch And Sundance' partner and good friend Robert Redford)' and 'The Towering Inferno (1974)'.

Paul Newman was still a major star in the '80s, and, in 1987, he was to win his first Best Actor Oscar for 'The Color Of Money (1986)' reprising the role of 'Fast' Eddie Felson, and he was given an Academy Honorary Award in 1986 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1994. As late as 2003, Paul Newman was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role of John Rooney in 'Road To Perdition (2002)'. He was also a respected director and producer, and directed and produced 'Rachel, Rachel (1968)', which was nominated for Best Picture, and Newman's wife Joanne Woodward was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in the title role. Paul Newman was nominated for an Emmy for Best Director ('The Shadow Box (1980)') and Best Producer ('Empire Falls (2005)' - for which he also won Best Supporting Actor).

As a renowned humanitarian, Paul Newman was opposed to the Vietnam War and was pro-civil rights, and he also made it quite high on Richard Nixon's enemies list - something Newman quite liked! In 1982, Paul Newman founded Newman's Own food products with writer A.E. Hotchner. Popular particularly in North America and Britain, Newman donated all his profits to charity. This has resulted in over $200 million in donations. Paul Newman faced up to his own mortality by arranging for the handover of the business to his daughter, Nell (Elinore). Newman had also started a foundation after the tragic death of his son Scott. A gifted racing driver, Paul Newman finished second in the prestigious Le Mans race in 1979.

On September 26th, 2008, Paul Newman died at his home in Westport, Connecticut, after a long and brave battle with cancer. He was 83, and his famous marriage to actress Joanne Woodward had lasted over 50 years. Paul once said: "I'd like to be remembered as a guy who tried to extend himself as a human being. Someone who isn't complacent, who doesn't cop out." Paul Newman was more than a blue-eyed pretty boy, that's for sure, and was one of the coolest movie stars who ever lived.

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