Paul Newman, Sept. 26, age
83: Film fans -- and just about everyone else -- were in deep mourning
upon hearing of the loss of screen great Paul Newman, who died of lung cancer.
It wasn't just Newman's matinee idol looks, or his flinty, magnetic talent that
earned him an Oscar
... moreplus nine nominations. It was the sense that he lived a live
worth living, with a deeply loving marriage, to devoted wife Joanne Woodward, and strong family connections to all
of his children. And his quiet determination to raise millions of dollars for
charity and give away with little fanfare, especially to his beloved Hole in the
Wall Gang camps (while making pretty darn great salad dressing in the meantime).
Newman was a Hollywood giant, yet embraced a real, humor-laced, and
grounded life. And while we will always be able to savor his performances
in films like "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,"
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and many more, we know no one
will ever be able to take his place in our hearts. How can we settle for
hamburger when we've had steak?