Paul Newman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Newman
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Newman in 1958
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Paul Leonard Newman
January 26, 1925 Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | September 26, 2008 (aged 83) Westport, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Education | |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1949–2007 |
| Organization | SeriousFun Children's Network, Safe Water Network |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 6, including Scott, Nell, and Melissa |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank |  Petty Officer Third Class |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards |  Navy Good Conduct Medal |
Paul Leonard Newman (born January 26, 1925 – died September 26, 2008) was a famous American actor, film director, and race car driver. He was also a kind person who gave a lot of money to charity. Paul Newman won many awards for his acting, including an Oscar, a BAFTA Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. He also received a special award for his charity work.
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Early Life and First Roles
Paul Newman was born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, on January 26, 1925. He grew up in a nearby town called Shaker Heights. His parents were Theresa and Arthur Newman, who owned a sporting goods store. Paul's mother helped in the store and raised him and his older brother, Arthur.
Paul loved theater from a young age. When he was seven, he played the court jester in a school play about Robin Hood. At age 10, he acted in a play called Saint George and the Dragon at the Cleveland Play House. He was a well-known actor in their children's theater program.
Education and Training
Paul finished high school at Shaker Heights High School in 1943. He then went to Ohio University for a short time. After World War II, he went to Kenyon College in Ohio. In 1949, he earned a degree in drama and economics.
After college, Paul acted with several summer theater groups. He then studied acting at the Yale School of Drama for a year. Later, he trained at the famous Actors Studio under Lee Strasberg.
Paul Newman's Acting Career
Paul Newman's first big role on Broadway was in a play called Picnic. He acted in a few smaller movies before becoming very famous. People started to notice his talent in films like Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958).
Famous Movies
Paul Newman starred in many popular movies. Some of his most famous roles include:
- Eddie Felson in The Hustler (1961)
- Hud Bannon in Hud (1963)
- Luke Jackson in Cool Hand Luke (1967)
- Butch Cassidy in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
- Henry "Shaw" Gondorff in The Sting (1973)
- Doug Roberts in The Towering Inferno (1974)
- Reggie Dunlop in Slap Shot (1977)
- The voice of Doc Hudson in Cars (2006)
Paul Newman was nominated for an Oscar ten times. He finally won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Color of Money (1986).
Later Roles
In 2003, Paul Newman acted in a play called Our Town on Broadway. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance. He also received an Emmy Award nomination when the play was shown on TV.
His last live-action movie role was in Road to Perdition (2002), where he played a mob boss. He was nominated for an Oscar for this role. In 2005, he appeared in the HBO mini-series Empire Falls. He won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his role in this series.
Paul Newman stopped acting in May 2007. He said he felt he was losing his memory and confidence. He did come out of retirement to narrate two documentaries: Dale (2007) and The Meerkats (2008). The Meerkats was his very last film role.
Beyond Acting
Paul Newman was not just an actor; he had many other interests and passions.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Paul Newman was very generous. He started a food company called Newman's Own. All the money the company made after taxes went to charity. By May 2021, these donations added up to over $570 million!
In 1988, he founded the SeriousFun Children's Network. This is a group of summer camps and programs for children with serious illnesses. Since it started, it has helped over 1.3 million children and their families.
In 2006, Paul Newman also helped start Safe Water Network. This organization works to bring clean, safe water to communities around the world that don't have it.
Race Car Driver
Paul Newman loved auto racing. He first got interested in motorsports while training for his 1969 film Winning. Because of his passion, he hosted a TV special in 1971 called Once Upon a Wheel, which was about the history of car racing.
Newman won several national championships as a driver in Sports Car Club of America races. His racing teams also won many championships in IndyCar racing. In 1979, he raced in the famous 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished in second place.
Paul Newman was honored after his death by being added to the SCCA Hall of Fame in 2009. Some of his last big races were the Baja 1000 in 2004 and the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2005. A part of the Lime Rock Park race track was renamed "Paul Newman Straight" in 2022 to honor him. His racing life was shown in a documentary called Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman (2015).
Personal Life
Paul Newman was married twice. His first marriage was to Jackie Witte from 1949 to 1958. They had a son named Scott and two daughters, Susan and Stephanie. Scott passed away in 1978. Susan is a filmmaker and helps with charity work. She also acted in some films, including one with her father.
Paul Newman met actress Joanne Woodward in 1953 while working on the play Picnic. They got married in 1958. The Newmans chose to raise their family in Westport, Connecticut, instead of Hollywood. They stayed married for 50 years until Paul's death in 2008.
They had three daughters: Elinor "Nell" Teresa, Melissa "Lissy" Stewart, and Claire "Clea" Olivia. Paul Newman was known for being very dedicated to his wife and family. He even directed Nell and Joanne in some films. Paul and Joanne also helped mentor actress Allison Janney.
Their life together was featured in a 2022 TV series called The Last Movie Stars.
His Final Years
In May 2008, Paul Newman had to step down from directing a play due to health concerns. It was reported that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Paul Newman passed away at his home in Westport, Connecticut, on September 26, 2008. He was cremated after a private funeral.
Fun Facts About Paul Newman
- Paul Newman's father was Jewish, and his mother was Catholic.
- He served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific Ocean.
- He once said he had trouble with math.
- Newman was worried about global warming. He supported using nuclear energy as a way to help solve the problem.
- In 2017, Paul Newman's special Rolex Daytona watch was sold at an auction for $17.5 million. This made it one of the most expensive watches ever sold.
- In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service released a special 'forever stamp' honoring Paul Newman.
Awards and Honors
Paul Newman was nominated for an Oscar in five different decades. Besides the awards he won for specific roles, he received an honorary Academy Award in 1986 for his amazing acting. He also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1994 for all his charity work.
In 1992, Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward were honored with the Kennedy Center Honors. In 1994, they received an award for their great public service to people in need.
Newman won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for The Long, Hot Summer. He also won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for Nobody's Fool.
Images for kids
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Paul Newman in 1954
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Paul Newman on the set of Once Upon a Wheel (1971)
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Paul Newman at a political rally for Eugene McCarthy in 1968
See also
In Spanish: Paul Newman para niños
- List of peace activists
