The son of a successful sporting goods store owner, Paul Leonard Newman entered the world on January 26, 1925, in Shaker Heights, Ohio. His mother was a Hungarian-born Catholic and his father was a Jew of Hungarian and Polish ancestry. He also had a brother named Arthur. Paul was an actor even in grade school, his famous blue eyes enchanting all who crossed his path. After being discharged from the navy in 1946, he enrolled at Kenyon College. After graduation, he spent a year at Yale Drama School.
He soon headed for New York, armed with his blue eyes and a lot of sex appeal. There he attended the famed New York Actor’s Studio. In 1953 he made his first Broadway appearance in “Picnic”, and after that television parts came very easily for him. He was offered a contract by Warner Brothers who signed him for his first film, “The Silver Chalice”, in 1954. He himself felt his performance was so bad that he actually took out a full-page ad in a trade paper apologizing to anyone who might have seen the movie.
His next movie, “Somebody Up There Likes Me” (1956) catapulted him to stardom. He portrayed boxer, Rocky Graziano, and the critics praised his outstanding performance. Paul Newman went on to become one of the top box office draws of the 1960s. Some of his films included, “The Hustler” (1961), “The Prize” (1963), “Hud” (1963), “Cool Hand Luke” (1967) and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969).
Nominated 19 times for an Oscar, he finally won in 1986 for his performance in “The Color of Money.” He lives with his wife, Joanne Woodward, in Westport, Connecticut and is the founder of “Newman’s Own,” a successful line of food products the proceeds of which go to charity. He is a caring and generous man.
What are some of YOUR favorite Paul Newman movies? Please share.