Saturday, September 27, 2008

Paul Newman (1925-2008)

Paul Newman, a big screen legend for half a century and the head of a huge philanthropic empire for the past 25 years, died Saturday. He was 83.

Surrounded by his family and close friends at his farmhouse near Westport, Conn., Newman succumbed Friday after a long battle with cancer.

He was famed for his good looks (specifically his blue eyes), a passion for car racing and one of the coolest demeanors ever to heat up the silver screen.

Nominated for 10 Oscars, Paul Newman starred in classics such as The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cool Hand Luke and many more.

But perhaps Paul's proudest accomplishment, besides his 50-year marriage to actress Joanne Woodward, was starting Newman's Own, which since 1982 has made popcorn, spaghetti sauce, lemonade, salad dressing and other condiments.

Oh, and it donated ALL of its profits after taxes - more than $250 million in his lifetime - to charities personally selected by Newman. May he rest in peace.

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