Actor philanthropist Paul Newman died at the age of 83

Famous actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman, died on September 26, 2008. He was suffering from Lung cancer. At the time of his death, he was 83 years old. The actor died at his long-time home in Westport, Connecticut. Though news came out that he was suffering from lung Cancer and receiving outpatient treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, he never admitted publicly. He rather said that he was “doing nicely.” In 2006, Paul Newman told an interviewer that he was surprised to survive all the alcohol, smoking, stressful career and cars.

Paul Newman was among those Hollywood actors who made it to the top not for their talents but hard work. Paul Newman can be referred as a rebel for he never tried the conventional path to success. He did not take the roles which people would like to see him but roles that he wanted to do. Los Angeles Times reports:

Annoyed by the public's fascination with his resemblance to a Roman statue and his Windex-blue eyes, Newman often chose offbeat character roles. In the 1960s, he helped define the American anti-hero and became identified with the charming misfits, cads and con men in film classics such as "The Hustler," "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

Actors and movie makers mourned over his death. Famous director, Martin Scorsese, who directed Paul Newman in The Color of Money, said that the history of movies without Paul Newman would be incomplete. Robert Bedford who co-starred with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid said:

"There is a point where feelings go beyond words. I have lost a real friend. My life -- and this country -- is better for his being in it."

Paul Newman was also famous as a philanthropist. He founded Newman’s Own, a food company in 1982 and earned about $250 million all of which are donated various charity organizations.

Related articles:

Daily News

Los Angeles Times