Paul Newman: A Life

by Shawn Levy

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “[This] absorbing, affectionate portrait manages to bring [Newman] back to us. . . . Paul Newman leaves readers with a surprisingly cheering message. If the rest of us can’t aspire to having Newman’s life, we can at least take inspiration from the way he lived his.”— The Washington Post

“A graceful tribute to a one-of-a-kind man.”— The Seattle Times
“Newman’s life was never dull, and Levy re-creates it in vivid detail.”— Parade

Paul Newman, the Oscar-winning actor with the legendary blue eyes, achieved superstar status by playing charismatic renegades, broken heroes, and winsome antiheroes in such revered films as The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Verdict, The Color of Money , and Nobody’s Fool . But Newman was also an oddity in the rare box-office titan who cared about the craft of acting, the sexy leading man known for the staying power of his marriage, and the humble celebrity who made philanthropy his calling card long before it was cool.
 
Unlike his father, a successful entrepreneur, Newman bypassed the family sporting goods business to pursue an acting career. After struggling as a theater and television actor, Newman landed the lead role of boxer Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me when, in a tragic twist of fate, James Dean was killed in a car accident. Part of the original Actors Studio generation, Newman demanded a high level of rigor and clarity from every project. The artistic battles that nearly derailed his early movie career would pay off handsomely at the box office and earn him critical acclaim.

He applied that tenacity to every endeavor both on and off the set. The outspoken Newman used his celebrity to call attention to political causes dear to his heart, including civil rights and nuclear proliferation. Taking up auto racing in midlife, Newman became the oldest driver to ever win a major professional auto race. A food enthusiast who would dress his own salads in restaurants, he launched the Newman’s Own brand dedicated to fresh ingredients, a nonprofit juggernaut that has generated more than $250 million for charity.

In Paul A Life, Shawn Levy gives readers the ultimate behind-the-scenes examination of the actor’s life, from his merry pranks on the set to his lasting romance with Joanne Woodward to the devastating impact of his son’s death from a drug overdose. This expansive biography is a portrait of an extraordinarily gifted man who gave back as much as he got out of life—and just happened to be one of the most celebrated movie stars of the twentieth century.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History, Film, Media Tie In, Business

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Shawn Levy is the author of eleven books of biography, pop culture history, and poetry. The former film critic of The Oregonian and KGW-TV and a former editor of American Film, he has been published in Sight and Sound, Film Comment, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Black Rock Beacon, among many other outlets. He jumps and claps and sings for victory in Portland, Oregon, where he serves on the board of directors of Operation Pitch Invasion.

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Newman is one of my all-time favorite actors. Anybody who can pull off The Sting in such fabulous fashion (and look so good doing it) is a-okay in my book. [this caveat also encompasses Robert Redford, btw.]

and this isn't even getting into his wonderful philanthropy [see previous book review].

but with all that, I didn't really know all that much about the guy.
for example, had no idea he was 50 miles off-shore on a submarine when the US bombed Hiroshima. or that he was colorblind (which was why he was on a sub and not flying a plane like he wanted to).

I also had no idea that he had cheated on his wife.

biographies are tricky things. you usually read them about people you are interested in. most often, people you like or admire. and you don't always find out things that you wanna know. the not so nice things that alter your perception of them.

sometimes you come out of a biography having lost respect for the person you were reading about.

but sometimes that person comes out just fine. cause even though they may have made a few mistakes, done a few things you don't quite agree with and were bummed about when you initially read them, how they made up for those things or the good they did with the rest of their life far outweighs those few unsavory things.

Paul Newman comes out just fine.

this was an excellent biography.

[plus, check out that cover. why hello there.]

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read on the life of Paul Newman, his acting days and marriages, right up till he passed away. It has some good stories about the making of his many films, and the directors and actors he and Joanne knew, very full of that type of thing if you enjoy it. Made me want to watch more of his movies that I haven't seen.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but laborious ... lots and lots of detail, but in no particular order ... Most biographies are written in chronological order or at least by subject matter, but this one was like someone threw information pick-up-sticks in the air and wrote it like they landed. ..sometimes with duplications. For someone as accomplished as Paul Newman, I expected a better read. Some similarities of other Hollywood men - booze, infidelity, lousy at being a father while his children were growing up, but in the end became a giving, successful and respected man. He made mistakes, but over came them. His charity work is unsurpassed. As the world goes, a very appreciative, decent human being who gave much to others and felt it was a privilege to have lived. I think the world is a better place because he did.

[Will Errickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of the best movies I’ve seen during the quarantine have been HUD and NOBODY’S FOOL, so I was excited when I unexpectedly found this bio in a Free Little Library just a block from my house! Newman’s role in HUD is considered the first American movie antihero, and in NOBODY’S FOOL, well, he’s just a fascinating and flawed old man. Just the kind of Hollywood bio I dig: behind the scenes of great movies and lots about the subject’s drinking and eating (case of beer a day and Newman’s Own of course!). A fun satisfying read if you like Paul Newman (who doesn’t?!).

[Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow to start but still a good biography.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best biographies I've ever read. Newman was a fascinating man--intense, carefree, rebellious, and immensely talented. His flaws were public, his losses were international news, and his philanthropy has changed lives.

[Eve Koguce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fame and limelight make people look big. They are everywhere. The stories about their every step published on popular websites and social media make them seem important. Sometimes, those whose faces we regularly see flashing through the news have personalities to match their popularity. And sometimes, behind glamorous images, there is nothing but the shallow void.

Paul Newman is a rare celebrity whose personality exceeded his staggering fame and unprecedented success as a movie star. I can imagine his fans, who’ve watched all his movies and followed his life through newspapers and TV news, thinking that they knew their idol. Yet, after reading his biography, I believe that a rare person outside his personal circle – which, to stay fair, was rather wide – truly realised the depth and breadth of his extraordinary persona.

The author has done Paul Newman justice by meticulously documenting every stage of his life. Because it indeed was the remarkable life of an extraordinary man. Not a fan and only vaguely familiar with his work in movies, after reading the book, I was left with a strong impression of who Paul Newman was, not only as a star but as a man, husband, and father. With his words, the author managed to convey the essence of a person behind the public image: his aspirations, motivations, ambitions, and much more.

So many things made me admire Paul Newman that the length of the review detailing all the reasons for my admiration would be a crime against the reading community. Let me only mention in passing a few things. His serious attitude towards his acting and a pragmatic one, with a touch of self-irony, towards his exceptionally good looks. His fifty-year-long marriage. His not falling into the trap of drugs. Here, it would be fair to mention that his appreciation of beer was legendary.

The thing that I’ll let myself expand a little on is Paul Newman’s charity for seriously ill children, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

An adventurous person when it came to implementing the projects based on something that mattered to him, Paul Newman came up with an idea that the world – the USA at least - deserves more than to continue with a mediocre salad dressing. The rich and famous actor was known for dressing his salad with the dressing of his own making, even in restaurants. One day, it dawned on him that he and his friends and loved ones might not be the only ones who silently suffer from the inadequacy of salad dressing served everywhere, spoiling perfectly fresh and crispy ingredients. So, enlisting a sidekick – pardon, a business partner from the pool of his closest friends, Paul Newman created a successful business venture, starting with offering the craving market a salad dressing, which was up to his high standards for this product.

You might shrug and say, “A usual story. A celebrity plasters his face on a bottle of something and adds a few more millions to his bank account.” And you’d be wrong. All the profits from the ‘salad dressing’ venture went to charity. It was how the business partners had agreed it would be before the business had taken off. It didn’t change even after Newman’s death, the actor having included a respective clause in his testament.

The enormity of the endeavour and the acute realisation of what it meant for the sick kids and their parents already brought tears to my eyes. But a story about a little girl gifting Paul Newman a bracelet made me openly cry.

Four stars and not five for “Paul Newman: A Life” by Shawn Levy not because of the story, the lack of mastery displayed by the author, or the personality of Mr Newman. I took off one star solely because of my own knowledge deficiency that forced me to jump back and forth across the book, looking for the names, titles, and places mentioned, which my memory was unable to hold. Because of this, when my concentration wasn’t at its highest, reading this book sometimes turned into a bit of a slog.

Biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs are among the top three of my favourite genres, and I highly recommend this book to those who have a similar appreciation for biographical non-fiction.

P.S. My husband had been offering to watch one of the classical western movies for a while, and I remained reluctant to the idea. But reading Paul Newman’s biography did ignite my interest, and together we’ve watched “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Probably not the cup of tea for younger viewers, we enjoyed the movie immensely. Even though the filming took place in Utah, we couldn’t help noticing the similarities in the red canyon landscape with Arizona, which we visited last year.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really on a biography kick! Paul Newman: A Life really depicts an amazing life of an amazing man. It hardly seems one book can cover all that he was, from an Oscar winning actor to a championship racecar driver, to a fabulously generous philanthropist, and of course dedicated husband and father of six. I learned things I never knew about Newman (that he was born in Shaker Heights, that he had been married before his legendary 50+ year marriage to Joanne Woodward, and that his famous Newman's Own salad dressing evolved from his own personal recipe that he often put into use in public restaurants when he found himself dissatisfied with what he was offered). I enjoyed all the behind the scenes stories of movies I love (particularly Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (he was originally slated to play Sundance, not Butch) and The Sting and the tales of his backstage hijinx (shades of my dear George Clooney). I found myself very teary-eyed at the end and in awe of his amazing heart. On a side note: I also never knew there were tongue-in-cheek stories on the backs of his Newman's Own products and went immediately to my fridge to read the backs of two Newman's Own dressing bottles and the Alfredo sauce, as well.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite actor of all time

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para mí, Paul Newman era no solo un gran actor, sino que era completamente perfecto en todo sentido, desde su carisma en pantalla o vulnerabilidad hasta su trayectoria personal fuera de cámara. Recuerdo que la primera vez que lo vi fue en la película “Mensaje en una botella” basada en la novela de Nicholas Sparks. Era la época en que descubría el cine y quedé fascinada cuando vi esos hermosos ojos azules y esa postura rebelde que no aceptaba una respuesta negativa combinado con esa actitud descarada que más que molestar llegaba a encantar. También recuerdo lo avergonzada que me sentí por sentirme tan hormonal por un hombre que podría tener la edad de mi abuelo. Pero los años pasaron y conocí otras películas de Newman, conocí al joven Paul que me volvió loca, incluso hasta la actualidad y por ello mismo sentí mucha pena cuando me enteré de su fallecimiento el año 2008.
Encontrar este libro fue un auténtico tesoro, nunca había leído nada sobre este increíble actor, apenas lo vi, lo compré antes de que alguien más se lo llevase y leerlo fue toda una experiencia, fue conocerlo nuevamente y descubrir mucha información que antes no conocía. He leído muchas biografías así como autobiografías, narrar una vida no es lo mismo que contar la historia de un personaje ficticio, aquí hay mucho más en juego al intentar hacer un retrato de la realidad sin que altere los hechos u ofenda a alguien. La carga puede ser abrumadora si el resultado no es el que todos esperan, pero no fue este el caso, Shawn Levy nos deleita con una narrativa que no aburre y que sabe cómo ocupar los tonos adecuados al cederle la palabra a Paul. Varias partes son de entrevistas verídicas y Levy sabe colocarlas en el momento exacto como si el mismo Newman nos contara su propia experiencia y es imposible no aburrirse, cada nuevo capítulo cuenta alguna nueva anécdota de una vida que estuvo llena de actividades. Actualmente, es considerado una de las leyendas del cine, pero el libro nos muestra más allá de esa leyenda, un hombre que como todos, puede cometer errores, que por mucho que lo muestren junto a su esposa como la más durable pareja de Hollywood, no siempre todo fue sobre ruedas en un matrimonio tan largo y que más de algún tropiezo hubo.
Solo doy un consejo a la hora de leerlo, que al mismo tiempo vean las películas que se mencionen en el libro, personalmente me quedo con Paris Blues y Road to Perdition. Cada una, por sí misma, es todo un arte. También recomiendo este excelente artículo sobre Paul y Joanne.

http://www.jotdown.es/2013/04/amores-...

Sin duda, uno de los mejores libros con los que empecé este 2017.

"Aquí yace un viejo que no formaba parte de su tiempo".
-Paul Newman.

[Brenden Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Newman is fascinating because he is such a normal guy, or rather, an animating force in his life was wanting to be such a normal guy. Unlike so many stars, Newman would often insist that there was nothing special about himself. Though when you finish Shawn Levy's fine biography of the actor, you have to conclude that it was just this attitude that made him special.

Part of what allowed Paul Newman to become a star was his feeling that people didn't consider him to be particularly special, at least at the beginning of his career. He kind of grew into his generational screen presence and didn't become the Newman we remember as a heartthrob until he was approaching his forties. Though Newman was Yale-educated and studied at the Actor's Studio, he got this education before it had the sort of weight it would have today. And in his early roles, Newman earned solid notices but was never thought to have the kind of star potential of contemporaries like Marlon Brando and James Dean. In fact, for most of Newman's career, his wife Joanne Woodward was considered the better actor. And probably, most cinema buffs would still agree. Paul certainly did.

This kind of under-the-radar also-ran status gave Newman the space to dedicate himself to his craft. He was as disciplined and studied a method actor as many of his peers who are thought of as students of the artform. And unlike many of those peers, he internalized the great acting advice that permeates so much of modern technique: "Do less." By the time he reached the greatest period of his work critics would often say that he disappeared into his work, which is, ultimately, the point of acting.

Levy's book is a thorough and admiring portrait of the actor. If I have a complaint it is that the author focuses more on family and racing than I might like personally, but it isn't about me. Racing, salad dressing, charity, and family were almost as important to Newman as acting, and any biography should recognize that. And it is so much of the relatively mundane details of his life, from family challenges to liberal political advocacy to the lengths Newman would go to be considered "one of the guys" that stick with you when you finish the book.

Did Newman have parts of himself that are unique stardom? Sure. The blue eyes. The women throwing themselves at him (often literally). The fundraising dinners with the elite of his generation. The ability to launch businesses and charities on a whim. But what makes the man a fascinating subject for biography is that through all of that, he kept himself grounded by trying to be the one thing he could never really be: an average guy who liked to drink beer, drive cars, and spend time with his family.

[Rosie Genova · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, to start with, there's the cover. But since I read the Kindle copy, apparently I missed out on more pics of the delectable subject of this bio. Which brings me to my one criticism of the work--the focus on Paul Newman's looks, to the point of objectification. Levy's work was unauthorized, but respectful and meticulously researched. And while there's no getting around Newman's physical appeal, the author's constant emphasis on it undermined one of the most important themes and struggles in the actor's life: having to prove he was more than a pretty boy. I had the pleasure of seeing Paul Newman as the Stage Manager in Our Town on Broadway; he was in his seventies, and yes, still striking and handsome. But more than his gorgeous blue eyes, his humanity shone through that character. Levy does give Newman his due as a hardworking actor, and is not so star struck that he can't enumerate his mistakes and flaws. (Of which there are more than I realized.) He also writes admiringly about Joanne Woodward, who comes off as a talented, remarkable--and endlessly patient--woman. That in itself brought the review to four stars instead of three.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly acceptable biography. It's nothing special, but Levy does avoid meaningless gossip for the most part. There is some repetition of facts (okay, Paul Newman drank a case of beer every day, you don't have to keep reminding us!) and there are definite gaps in the story since it's an unauthorized biography. It will do until someone else can really delve into this remarkable man's life.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Newman was one of the most popular film stars of the 1960s through the late-1980s, a humanitarian, businessman, race car owner, and a likeable celebrity. I was always taken in by his down-to-earth charm and no-frills acting style.

The author initially takes us from his childhood in the Shaker Heights' neighborhood in Cleveland to his Navy service years of WWII to his collegiate career at Ohio University and Kenyon College. Newman was a student-athlete-actor (by default). After college, he performed in summer stock, married, and acted in a small Illinois theater. For short while he worked at the family sporting goods store which was eventually at a profit. Newman's good business sense surfaced and would serve him wellthroughout his life. His move East to study acting at Yale and the act in New York City was jumping-off point for his acting.

Newman's determination to act led him to enroll in the Actors' Studio in NYC in 1952. Under the tutelage of Lee Strasberg he embraced the "method acting" style. In time, television and the stage called. His role in 'Picnic' brought him attention and a formal introduction to Joanne Woodward, a young actress. When Hollywood called in 1954, Newman relunctantly took his first movie role in "The Silver Chalice" which he forever panned and labeled a terrible film. In an effort to distance himself from the film, Newman returned to the stage and was cast in the play, "The Desperate Hours" which went onto win several Tony Awards and praise for Newman. 1955 was a pivotal year with Newman acting in a televised performance of "Our Town" and being cast as Rocky Graziano in "Somebody Up There Likes Me." The tragic death of friend and fellow method actor, James Dean made him embrace a full life. By the late-1950s, he and Jacqueline had three children (including Scott) but Newman's relationship with Woodward was also deepening. During the 1950s, he also made his first western, "The Left Handed Gun," a genre which he would return to often in his career. His divorce from his first wife and his marriage to Woodward were within months in 1958. Newman's career blossomed in the late-1950s with strong performances in "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" and "Long Hot Summer." The latter film also was the first film pairing of Newman and Woodward. Woodward also enjoyed success as an actress with her Oscar-nominated performance in "The Three Faces of Eve." Newman ended the decade of the 1950s with another play directed by Elia Kazan, "Sweet Bird of Youth." Newman's new agent, Lew Wasserman, a star-maker supported his breakign away from Warner Brothers. Interestingly, Newman had continued to be a private man who disliked fancy gatherings and loved to drink beer, especially Budweiser and Coors. His beer-drinking was legendary and in truth, he was a functioning alcoholic. Newman also treated acting like a workman and balked at awards. He also had a heart for societal fairness and equality for all.

Newman started the decade of the 1960s with an international but controversial film, Otto Preminger's "Exodus" and a production company partnership with Martin Ritt. Both had an impact on developing Newman's expansion into film production. Their first film, "Paris Blues" starred Paul Newman and Joanne Woodrward (their fourth film pairing) and Sidney Poitier & Diahann Carroll. Another film, "From The Terrace" was another film pairing for the husband & wife team which was released slightly before "Paris Blues." Largely because of the success of "Exodus," Newman was offered many roles and plays but shose "The Hustler." This film would continue Newman's long string of successful films in the decade. With the landmark 'modern western', "Hud" in 1963, Newman made 18 films between 1956 through 1963. He also was nominated for the Oscar his work in "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," "The Hustler," and "Hud" but did not win. Newman continued his off-screen activities with a leadership role in the Actors' Studio Theater and the Civil Rights movement during the early 1960s. Newman managed to be a family man, actor, and concerned citizen as the country exploded in the late-1960s. He moved his family to Westport, Connecticut, away from the big cities. The Oscar eluded him again in 1967 when he won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for directing Rachel, Rachel and in 1968 after he was nominated for the fourth time, this time for Cool Hand Luke. As the decaed ended, Newman seemed resolute that he was not in favor with the decision makers and much like he did when he broke away from Warner Brothers in the 1950s, he became more of his 'own man,' refusing to give autographs, turning his back on the papparazzi, protecting his fmaily life, and laughing at the charm of his blue eyes and popularity. His production company and reale state investments now were the other main interest of his. Meanwhile, his relationship with his eldest son, Scott Newman became more strained even though the younger Newman was a stuntman in training. The latter years of the 1960s brought the films, "Winning" which propelled Newman into his new passion - race car driving, and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" which would be his first pairing with Robert Redford. The latter film had several possible partners (Warren Beatty, Marlon Brando, and Steve McQueen) before Redford was selected. Redford seemed like a perfect match and the duo hit it off. The film went onto take in $102M. In spite of its success, the critics and media snubbed the film with no Oscar nomination. Both actors seemed unaffected. For Newman, he remained disconnected from the media.

During the 1970s, Newman continued to remain politically active with the Democratic Party, and took control of his career, life, and legacy. In late-1969, Newman, Streisand, and Poitier signed contracts with First Artists Production Company, a new business that would tie them as financiers, producers, actors, and distributors of films made outside the Hollywood studio system. Newman seemed destined for more wealth and artistic control than he could ever imagine. A short-lived affair in Mexico did not destroy his marriage. After "WUSA," Newman poured himself into "Sometimes A Notion" which he also directed. Unfortunately, Universal Studios mismanaged the release and the film never met expectations. Newman bounced back as he had done many times before. From 1971-73, Newman threw himself into comeptitive racing and was soon racing professionally. He would win enough during the decade that he poured himself into developing a racing team. His career was pumped by three solid films during the period, "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean," "The MacKintoch Man," and"The Sting." By the mid-1970s, Woodward was an actress with an Oscar and and an Emmy for "Sybil" while Newman was raking in the money but had yet to win an Oscar. Newman earned over $10M from "the Towering Inferno" and made his first (to "Harper") with "The Drowning Pool" among other movies as the 1970s drew to a close. His legendary drinking on his 50th birthday created a drinking game named after him. Unfortunately, his eldest son, Scott while a successful stunt man had a drug addiction problem which resulted in his death in 1978. Sadly, hsi daughter, Nell also became a drug user but managed it better. Newan's career seemed to be in the dumpster in the late-1970s when he made several bad films. The author delved deeply into Newman's family life but was respectful of the challenges and tragedy that characterized the Newmans for the decade.

By 1979, Newman treated acting as secondary, opting to focus on his racing, his horse farm, ecology drives & awareness, politics, and spending time with his children - three of whom dabbled in acting. Only Susan showed an interest in the business as a career. He returned to the stage, made a television movie, and again took a huge payday to make another dismal Irwin Allen disaster film, "When Time Ran Out." The actor was approaching 60 amd was at the crossroads of his career. In 1981, his new agent, Michael Ovitz landed him a role in "Fort Apache - The Bronx." The film revived his career and "Absence of Malice" followed after. Again he missed out on an Oscar in spite of being nominated a fifth time for his role in "Absence of Malice." These films began an acting renaissance for Newman. The hugely successful film, "The Verdict" and a sixth Oscar nomination followed - and another Oscar miss. In 1983, the Screen Actor Guild presented Newman and Woodward their Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1984, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Newman with their Honorary Award for his life's work. Newman took it in stride with a chuckle. "The Color of Money" teamed Newman with the hot young actor of the time, Tom Cruise in a 1986 Martin Scorcese-directed sequel to the Newman-Gleason film of 1961. Returning to the role of Eddie Felson was magical for it garnered a seventh Oscar and the elsuive Oscar. He contiuned to act in film, televsion, and on the stage in the late-1980s. His last two films of the decade, "Fat Man and Little Boy" and "Blaze" dealt with issues close to his heart, nuclear weapons and politicians. Newman's roles since the death of his son helped him deal with aging, mortality, life, and disappointment.

Another side of Newman was the businessman. In 1980, he and his friend, A.E. Hotchner, the playwright and author began 'Newman's Own' which would produce Newman's homemade salad dressing. Newman had long made his delicious dressigng for friends and was moved to go commercial after he made too much one Christmas. By design, Newman wanted to donate the profits, a model they would always follow. By 1982, the salad dressing was selling in local supermarkets. The profits went to the Scott Newman Foundation. "The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp,"a camp for children who survived cancer and other medical afflcitions was later funded and opened in 1988 with the foundation's support. More camp's followed in the 1990s with proceeds from the foundation. The brand followed the salad dressing with a spaghetti sauce in 1983; microwave popcorn in 1987; and virgin lemonade in 1988. By 1988, the business broke the $15M mark.

In 1980, a friendly feud began with Charlton Heston, a staunch Republican and Newman, an eco-advocate and anti-nukes activist. Newman also founded the Center for Defense Information in response. Newman mourned the death of Lee Strassberg, his mentor in 1981. The future of the Actors Studio fell into Newman's lap when he was named the president of the corporate board. He woudl remain inlvolved on the board with others until 1994. Racing dominated Newman's life during the 1980s during which he and Carl Haas formed the Newman-Haas Racing team in 1983. The racing team won the CART Championship in 1984.

Newman was 65 in 1990. He began the decade by co-starring with his wife Joanne in the film, "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge" for which they both received Oscar nods. During a 3-year hiatus from acting, Nemwan continued to race and received several more honorary degrees for his his philanthropic work, business success, and film career. The couple was also honored with the Kennedy Center Honors 1992. Newman made more films in the 1990s, the best being "Nobody's Fool" (1994) which featured an ensemble cast and gave him his eighth Oscar nomination. He appeared in three more lakcluster films from 1997 to 1999 and an episode of "The Simpsons" - a precursor of a future venture into animated films.

Newman's daughter, Nell and a business partner expanded "Newman's Own" into the growing field of organic food in 1994. "Newman's Own Organics" blossomed, giving away $2M in donations from the profits. By 1995, the Newman companies had given away more than $60M in donations. Paul Newman finally celebrated being a grandfather in 1996 at the age of 67. Grandpa Newman or "Pop-Pop" celebrated by being the oldest (70) driver to ever win a sanctioned auto race shortly after. Newman expanded his growing empire by purchasing "The Nation," a progressive journal in 1999. One of the last ventures undertaken by the Newmans was to serve on the artistic advisory council of teh Westport Country Playhouse in 2000. A production of "Our Town" starring a 78-year old Paul Newman led to it being televised on PBS in May 2003. Newman appeared in the televsion mini-series, "Empire Falls" in 2004 and garnered an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Award nomination.

Newman's life was winding down in 2000 but the actor was still active. "Road To Perdition" teamed Newman with the top actor of the time - Tom Hanks in 2002. Newman received his tenth Oscar nomination but his first as Supporting Actor. Newman returned to voice acting with his role in the Pixar film, Cars in 2006. The animated film about race cars and the success of the film led Newman to narrate a documentary about Dale Ernhardt in 2007 titled 'Dale." Newman had been feeling tired in late-2007. His declining health kept him from his stage directorial debut in 2008. For the first time, health was now very sick. The cancer diagnosis was the death knoll and Newman succombed pn September 26, 2008 at the age of 83.

His legacy of being a family man, an outstanding actor, an entrepreneur, a humanitarian, and an advocate for the arts was without question. I enjoyd reading about this talented and passionate man.

[Tom Oman · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason I thought Paul Newman was a much more interesting guy than he was. He seemed to suffer from this idea that he had only made it based on his good looks, although he was able to hone his acting skills over the years. But this sense of doubt was something he wasn't able to shake. He interestingly confesses that he was always quite bored with acting, but it was his living. This honest self criticism is one of the few things that provides any amount of depth to this book. There's an obscene focus on his handsomeness and the author is almost uncomfortably enamoured with his blue eyes, there are many lengthy passages where every known superlative is used to convince the reader of how enchanting he was. Newman often joked about how no matter how much he ate or drank his physique didn’t change much. By most definitions he would be considered an alcoholic, but in the celebrity circles he ran with this was normal. The author repeats how lucky Newman was, minimizing his own talents and abilities. His real passion was for cars and racing. He financed himself into a professional racing career which was something he was able to get quite good at. He's the oldest person to win an international pro race at age 70. The later stage of his life is defined by his salad dressing line 'Newman’s Own' which has earned hundreds of millions of dollars for charity and a chain of summer camps for disabled children, both of which being by far his most important legacy. Other than that he was a fairly ordinary guy who got the most out of the talents he had.

[Crystan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can be a bit precious about people I admire and am a fan of, so I was a little nervous to dig into this. I was so pleasantly surprised by the time I reached the end. Nothing earth shattering (aside from the apparent affair he had during Butch Cassidy, which I hadn’t been aware of prior to reading, and which also doesn’t take up much space in the book) to report, but a thorough history (particularly considering the fact that there were no real contributions from anyone close to him) of someone who comes across as a good, decent, humble man. He wasn’t a perfect father, husband, actor, or man, but genuine kindness and affection, a strong work ethic, and a desire to give more than he took seem to have been hallmarks of his life, and he’s described as someone who, though it sometimes took awhile, grew up and learned from his mistakes.

I found all of the talk about his philanthropic work, how authentic it was and how much it meant to him, particularly touching. And the way he never seemed to lose his eagerness for camaraderie on sets, never big-timed other actors, and kept a generous and collaborative spirit, even/especially with newcomers, was particularly lovely and somewhat astonishing for someone who spent DECADES as a marquee name and sex symbol, adored by the public and, intermittently, lauded by critics.

For whatever issues existed at times in his marriage and within his family, there always seems to have been warmth and affection among them, and at the end of his life he seemed genuinely adored by Joanne, his kids, and close friends. Salt of the earth seems to be an apt way of describing him, and, while he owes the general public absolutely nothing, I’m so delighted to know that, at his core, he was almost exactly who you wanted him to be.

(And, on the most shallow of notes, hats off to the front and back cover pictures and the photos sprinkled throughout - even when you’re reading, fairly constantly, about how ridiculously handsome he was, it’s a joy to get those reminders that no, the author, and your memory, are not overstating his beauty.)

[Elaine Czohara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boring. You can tell the author pieced this together from research and it was not authorized or hadmanyninout from Paul Newman or the immediate family. Made myself read the whole thing but boring.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic look at one of the all time legends, Paul Newman

[Lesslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written bio on Newman. He was a humble, talented, charitable man. I was unaware he was a successful race car driver too. It was an enjoyable read, however, a great deal of detail on his theatre and movie career.

[Rebecca I · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written bio. Unlike most biographies, this one did not lower my estimation of the person. I actually found out many things I did not know about Paul Newman. I also have enhanced respect for Joanne Woodward because of this book. It was very touching at the end.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Newman was mainly known to the world as a movie star – an icon, really – with a beautiful face, mesmerising blue eyes, and a air of rascality about him. His long marriage to Joanne Woodward was revered in a profession where marriages often seem to break up almost as soon as the vows are read. This book is a journey through Newman’s life, from his happy childhood as the son of the owner of a successful sporting goods business, to the start of his acting career, and of course, his Hollywood stardom. However, just as interesting are the details of Paul’s passion for motor racing, his political activism, and his philanthropy. The book also covers darker periods of his life, such as the tragic death of his son Scott, and a period when he and Joanne briefly separated.

The book was written in a respectful, but not fawning fashion, and painted a picture of a man who was sometimes uncomfortable with his stardom, who was almost obsessive about details regarding his characters and the settings of films, and whose greatest love in life was his wife. Shawn Levy has taken a huge number of interviews that Paul Newman gave, and put them into chronological order; in this way, although Newman did not participate in any way with the writing of this book, we are still able to see his thoughts on certain times in his life, certain films that he made, etc. The book does not portray Newman as a saint, but he is treated with the warmth and respect that such a man would deserve.

The book is very readable, and not at all dry – it’s a fascinating read from start to finish. I actually found myself with a lump in my throat at the end, when reading about the death of this mercurial, precise, rogueish, handsome, kind, intelligent and funny man. I would urge fans of Paul Newman to read this book.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this biography. I have been a fan of Paul Newman since I was a young girl.

I was not even aware of this book until Amazon advertised a Kindle sale edition. I stopped reading my other books and immediately began this one. And I am certainly pleased that I did.

The nicely written nostalgic look behind the scenes of his iconic movies and theatre performances [I wasn't familiar with these] made me feel as though i was part of the crew.

Getting to know the man behind the persona was at times poignant and expected; then surprising. He was a real human with real emotions that he sometimes shared with us. His bawdy nature should not have been unanticipated because I so enjoyed his exploits with David Letterman. Never having been a daredevil, I am happy to have shared his love of cars and racing.

Almost everyone knows of his generosity, but I was certainly not aware of its depth and reach.

The book often reminds the reader of the infinite role of luck in all of our days - both good, and, unfortunately, bad. Paul Newman had the rich fortune of his talent, his looks and big breaks. He surely enjoyed his well earned wealth. He never forgot this and paid it forward without stop. Much of his generosity was silent, adding to it a certain value.

What a full life! It ended with the grace of a fine man, both real and true.

So, little did I know so many years ago, when I, of course, was attracted to those piercing blue eyes, that I would become a fan of a regular guy who was an extraordinary man.

My Mom and I once mused that we live consecutive lives until we finally got it right. Paul Newman got it right.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gets off to a very rocky start by falling into the same trap 99% of all biographies fall into: too much pointless info. While I admire the research that went into unearthing everything about Newman's uncles, I just found it a snooze. Luckily, this same level of detail soon went into Newman himself, which is why I, ya know, wanted to read this. This was a pretty emotional ride much in the way the best Paul Newman performances were. I was stunned to learn of his affair in the late 60s and his general indulgence since both fly in the face of his public image when he died. Around this point, I was sorry I was reading this even though it was a real page turner once it got cooking. The death of Newman's son is the event that turned him into the man I admire. He turned the next 30 years to unpretentious charity and became the fierce character actor Brando had long since sold out (he was dismissed as a Brando clone in the 50s but time rendered a different verdict). This was the most surprising biography I've read in a long time but well worth it. Paul Newman wasn't perfect but in the end, the good far outweighs the flaws.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, very good research for the book. Since I live in Cleveland, I was very attuned to Levy's recounting of life in Shaker Heights and Cleveland in general during Newman's youth. It seemed fairly accurate and full of melting pot/Industrial revolution information. Shaker is a ground breaker, having one of the earliest subway (transit) systems in the Country.

I finished it, I'll keep it at four out of five stars mostly because it was well written. The rest of it was an interesting account of an actor's journey, the journey that became the life path for his various offspring. Most interesting was the building up of his philanthropic endeavors (both the retail/salad dressing compan, Newman's Own, and The Hole In The Wall Camps). If true, it was telling that he told his daughter he would fund her start up of a branch of Newman's Own, but only if she repaid it to the charity, since that money would have gone to the charity anyway (his words, according to the book).

Fascinating man who definitely exhibited some NE Ohio traits throughout his life.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I debated for awhile over whether or not to give this three or four stars, and while talking it over with my boyfriend, I'll go with four, and we can assume I really mean 3.5. The book is well researched and interesting if you are even a mild fan of Paul Newman. I wanted to learn more about him, and I really, truly did. He was a strange guy, but one who lived an extraordinary, giving life. I'm glad I read the book.

I think my issue with the book, though, is that it feels a little...distant. Granted, the author does point out that there was no involvement from any of the Newmans, resulting in his information coming from more scattered sources (and thus possibly proving more impressive for the thoroughness), but at the same time it does feel removed from Newman. His motivations sometimes feel distant, and I'm not sure I necessarily understand him; I just know more about him. Regardless, though, I think Levy did a good job. It's just a bit impersonal.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little disappointed. He wasn't the man I thought he was.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done. Held my interest throughout. Entertaining & well researched with a good balance of information about Newman's life and career.

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 4 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “WHAT WE GOT HERE IS… FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE”
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The Newman family was part of a group of Jewish immigrants from Hungary and Hungary/Poland. Paul’s grandparents married in Cleveland, Ohio… and Paul grew up in a relatively well-to-do suburb. Paul’s Father Arthur was a hard working and somewhat distant individual which left a lifelong impression on Paul of never having had a close relationship with his Father. His Father and his partners built an extremely successful company that sold sporting goods and scientific and electrical equipment… in fact their company Newman-Stern was one of the most lucrative of its kind in that part of the United States. The family had plans for Paul to become part of the business… but Paul obviously had a different dream. After enlisting in the Navy during World War II and attending college… he followed through on his quest to become an actor. Utilizing his G.I. bill he did graduate work at Yale and also joined the infamous Actor’s Studio in New York. There he honed his skills in “method-acting”. The author educates the reader in the fact that “method-acting” is much more than simply living and learning the lifestyle or circumstance of a particular part… it is also a technique where all actors and support personnel such as directors… literally dissect each other regarding their performance and motivations… over… and over… over. This particular style of acting is not popular… nor accepted by all actors. In fact it drives many actors crazy… to the point that many actors didn’t want to work with Newman… since a scene that might normally take an hour or two could last for days. One such actor who despised it was Frank Sinatra.

The reader is led through the complete gamut of Newman’s films without ever skirting the issue that some were bombs… as well as his historic lifetime successes such as “SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME”… “COOL HAND LUKE”… “HUD”… “BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID”… “THE STING”… “THE HUSTLER”… “THE COLOR OF MONEY”… et al… and his first movie ever… which he hated till the day he died… “THE SILVER CHALICE”. At times the reporting is a bit laborious.

Newman’s personal life which included two marriages and six children was not as successful as his screen career. Newman was a legendary drinker downing a “CASE” of beer a day for much of his life. In fact during the cocaine hey-day in Hollywood when many people wore a razor blade on a chain around their neck… Paul wore a bottle opener around his. The fact that he was a worldwide sex symbol… made it even harder for him to have a solid relationship with his children… and some of his kids had alcohol and drug problems… including his oldest child Scott who died from an alcohol and drug overdose. Newman’s second wife was Oscar winner Joanne Woodward who also had some problems with the attention Paul received. To thwart any rumors about marital infidelity… Newman made the much repeated quote: “WHY SHOULD I GO OUT FOR HAMBURGER… WHEN I HAVE STEAK AT HOME?” Paul would live to regret that statement when it was made public that he was having an affair with a Hollywood journalist Nancy Bacon who was quoted regarding Newman: “YOU’RE ALWAYS DRUNK, AND YOU CAN’T EVEN MAKE LOVE. I ENDED IT!” This and more was published in Bacon’s 1975 autobiography “STARS IN MY EYES… STARS IN MY BED.” “According to Bacon, the publisher’s lawyers vetted all her claims about Newman by interviewing her friends. The stories stood up.” “People used to joke about it: “PAUL MAY NOT GO OUT FOR HAMBURGER, BUT HE SURE GOES OUT FOR BACON.”

Newman’s mid-life passion for motor racing is examined in great detail along with his philanthropy… constant drinking… political beliefs… constant drinking… teenage-like sense of humor and love of pranks… and his inability… despite his never getting over his lack of closeness with his own Father… to truly be the kind of Father he himself had longed to have…

*”WHAT WE GOT HERE IS… FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE!”

[Clint · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like to throw a biography or autobiography into the mix every now and then to change things up and I have always admired Paul Newman as an actor and knew he always had contributed to society in other ways beyond acting, so some version of a Paul Newman book has been on my shelf for a long time. (there are a lot of them to choose from)
I settled on this one mostly after reading his 'biography' was mostly put together by his children from installments he had put together over the years and the reviews didn't look great.
I listened to the audiobook version of this and while the narrator seemed like he approached this with a different style than I normally hear in audiobooks, he did a pretty good job.
As far as my rating goes I would probably put this in the 2.5 leaning lower if you put a gun to my head to pick at 2 or a 3. The author really did his research when it came to Paul Newman, I will say that for sure. This book felt a little to long to me due to the inclusion of information not directly related to things I would expect to learn about Paul Newman. The first part of the book includes information about every single family member of Mr. Newman, their parents, where they were from and what their interests were and job titles in the old country before they came to america, what towns and parts of town and cities they lived in before Newman was born...their political affiliations, favorite music, actors, books, plays (this is before Newman is born).
I'm not saying it was wrong to include this information, but for me it was too much info that I didn't find pertinent to the source topic. The same theme applies as Newman's life is described. Each production he has ever been involved with (even stuff he has passed on) is gone over with a lot of detail. About a random play he did at Kenyon College...the actors that were in it, the actors that weren't, who played what role, who directed, who was the art director, what music was used.
This applied to every topic...a lot a lot of detail. It just became a little overwhelming at times.
On the flip side, getting slapped with that much info, you certainly learn more than you expected to.
I knew Paul Newman was a great actor, dabbled in racing, had his face on a salad dressing line, and was rumored to have drank a case of beer a day.
I didn't realize to what extent he was so involved in those things and more. Just reading about it wore me out and simultaneously made me feel lazy. (and I run marathons!!) Not only did he act...he directed...did Broadway traveling productions, was on the board at some acting institution (I can't remember which one). Not only did he dabble in racing...he won several legitimate racing events, had his own racing team that won several titles, raced at legitimate races well into his 70's, etc. Not only did he put his name on the salad dressing...he started the company using his own recipes...was heavily involved in keeping his store bought lines as natural as he could, donated all the profits to charity. He was heavily involved in being politically active, routinely campaigning for candidates he endorsed, etc.
He started his own camps (plural) for children with health problems and disabilities and visited each one on a regular basis.
On top of all that is sounds like the beer thing was probably true, which is a little sad, but also impressive at the same time.
While the book seemed to feel like dragged on a bit, the subject matter was extremely rewarding. Mr. Newman seemed to get about as much as you can expect out of life. Legendary and Humble.

[MollyRN · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned quite a bit about the man I've lusted after for as long as I can recall. I mean, I stop in my tracks when I see his image or hear his voice. He is stunning in looks and cool by my standards. I'm a movie fan, classic 30's and 40's movies being my favorite genre. I've seen many of his movies but not all. I've never considered him as a very good actor but rather a stiff, limited actor often playing the same stilted character just in a slightly different role. Very little stretching or challenge of his acting chops have been necessary throughout his career and after reading this book I now believe (as he did) that his looks are responsible for it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say, had his looks not carried him, he'd never have been the star he became. That's not saying that he hasn't done some great work. I'm saying much of it is because his looks have opened all the doors and wallets throughout the years. He admits himself, he was a rascal and not much liked in his early years. I'd agree. He was a bit of an ass, actually. Not unlike the Lukas Jackson cutting off the parking meter heads in Cool Hand Luke type. He got roles because of his looks. However, he does pay the price for his jerkhood and grows up through the years yielding the fabulous human that is the Paul Newman I love and will always admire and cherish. What a man. He made so much money he found it completely ridiculous so he figured out how to make other peoples lives better. I've been buying those products since their inception and now I'm glad I have. I was surprised to hear how he's mistreated his first wife and children in handling the young marriage but it appears he tried to make amends. And I was shocked to hear he almost ruined his marriage to Joanne Woodward as well, but in the end he bounced back on that one. He was a functioning but raging alcoholic for what sounds like all of his adult life. Fascinating that his body upheld its steam under such abuse. He really did give back to life in far more ways than he ever took from it. His philanthropic record is truly amazing and it's truly what mad him complete. I'm very glad I read this book and would definitely recommend it. I'm now off to see Hud which I'm rembarrassed to say I've never taken in followed by Slap Shot which I'm not embarrassed to say I've never taken in. Now I must say if YOU have never taken in Sometime a Great Notion, please do so. It is truly a gem. An under celebrated gem.