09.27.08
Obituary: Paul Newman (1925 – 2008)
I picture my epitaph:
“Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown.”
A confirmed Awards Daily report says that one of Hollywood’s true icons in every sense of the word who had been fighting a losing battle to cancer for a while now, Paul Newman, has finally lost the fight at the age of 83. This is the most devastating news ever, even though it has been a long time coming, it is still a huge blow for his family, friends, his enormous amount of fans and film lovers who idolise him and his unsurpassed contribution to the world of film, from his all time greats that I regard highly, “Cool Hand Luke,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Rachel, Rachel,” “Hud,” “The Verdict,” “The Hustler” and even “The Sting,” to his unbelievable humanitarian efforts and signifies the official end of an era when Old Hollywood was at its peak.
He’s one of the first members of Hollywood royalty that I ever came to admire, and it was because of him, to a great extent, that my love affair with the art of cinema came about. A huge chunk of my being was still holding on to the hope that this news was completely false, but another part of me was thinking that enough is enough, and he cannot fight for ever, nor live forever – at least not physically. The time for wishing and hoping is over now, and the 10 time Oscar nominee has passed on. In spirit and through the vast legacy he leaves behind, Paul Newman shall forever live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he’s touched in someway or another. RIP Paul Newman, we’ll miss you.
GoshWatcher said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:22 pm
If this is true, my heart is broken.
Dave said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:24 pm
This news should break officially sometime today, apparently, and it is so devastating. RIP Mr. Newman :(
Kerry said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Those are my favourites of his too Nick, I would also add The Colour Of Money….this is just not good news at all, so absolutely sad in every way and I am with you on hoping it is not true even though it probably is. RIP Paul Newman, we all adored you and shall continue to indulge ourselves by watching your incredible life’s work forever.
Nick Plowman said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I also loved him in “The Verdict,” among many other films. We all have our favourites, numerous of them, and that is gift I can never thank Newman enough for. Too bad I’ll never get the chance. This news is so shocking, even though I knew it was bound to happen eventually. Just never thought it would happen today. The volatility of life never ceases to knock the wind out of me.
Santiago said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Please be false news, please be false news, please be false news.
tibolt said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:40 pm
this is shocking news reporting, going on an unconfirmed word. How classy.
Salmaya said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:44 pm
This man embodied everything it meant to be a human being; he was tremendously talented, his humanitarian efforts were completely applaudable, his fervour and zest for life unsurpassed. I am shattered, as everyone else, who adored him, must be as well. What a sad day and a great loss.
Anonymous said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:45 pm
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=us&q=paul+newman&ie=UTF-8&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=h&as_mind=26&as_minm=9&as_maxd=27&as_maxm=9&nolr=1
Dave said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:49 pm
The news broke in the middle of the night tibolt, obviously that would make it difficult to confirm, but it is true. Apparently, it will break any minute now, so.
Nick Plowman said,
September 27, 2008 at 3:54 pm
And there you have it, confirmed. Ugh.
Sam Juliano said,
September 27, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Very sad news, and the proverbial end of an era. I also liked him a lot in his later film MR. & MRS. BRIDGE, which he did for Merchant and Ivory, and in which he played opposite his wife Joanne Woodward.
There are few left of his caliber, if any.
R.I.P.
Nick Plowman said,
September 27, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I knew it was going to happen, I just never thought it would happan last night, I’m very sad right now.
There will never be another Paul Newman, never, so. It’s just so sad.
Ibetolis said,
September 27, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Now, there was an icon.
Sad news indeed. The man brought so much happiness to so many people and will forever be remembered and revered.
Jerry said,
September 27, 2008 at 5:57 pm
This, as much as it was already forecast, sucks so badly I could just scream. Proof that I have a heart; a tear just ran down my cheek. Damn it.
Sonato said,
September 27, 2008 at 6:01 pm
So terribly sad, he will be missed by all, and I will make sure my children forever know who he was and how great he shall always be.
Vera said,
September 27, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Paul Newman was -is- truly legendary. Not only was he a great actor and a great star, he was a force for good in the world. He will be missed.
Kerry said,
September 27, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Sam, I don’t think there is or ever will be anyone of his caliber again in our lifetime. Never, ever, ever.
Nick Plowman said,
September 27, 2008 at 6:23 pm
This has just been an awful year for celebrity deaths, hasn’t it? Too much, more than one can really handle I think.
Jennifer W. said,
September 27, 2008 at 7:41 pm
He is, and always will be, my favourite actor and possibly one of my favourite humans to ever walk this Earth. I’ll miss him terribly and I thank you for giving him a nice obituary, he certainly deserves one.
Miranda Wilding said,
September 27, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I’ll miss him too, Nicky. This is killing me.
I can’t believe he’s gone…
J.D. said,
September 27, 2008 at 9:16 pm
WTF is with you, 2008?!
RIP to one of the truest legends cinema has ever had. *sobs*
Nick Plowman said,
September 27, 2008 at 9:16 pm
We’ll be okay Miranda and JD, this will all be okay in the end. That’s something Miranda has taught me. If we believe it will all be okay, it will all be okay. These things, as hard as they are, come and they go, they leave a mark and they hurt as hell, but in the end, it’ll be okay. Right? I mean, there have been celebrities this year who have died that I adore beyond words, the obvious ones spring to mind but they rest in other posts on this blog and this one belongs to Newman, and here we are. We’ll be okay, so will everyone close to Newman and Newman can look down from heaven and smile because in terms of cinema and his philanthropy, he has given a hell of a lot and so many people are grateful for that. He’s a legend, the coolest of cool with a heart of gold and all the talent in the world. He most definitely wont be forgotten by any of us, any time soon.
Sasha Perez said,
September 27, 2008 at 10:49 pm
There is something so Godlike about him, but he was very much a human being, and he instilled a great passion for life in everything he did, and I love him for that. Forever and always.
GoshWatcher said,
September 27, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Did anyone ever see him in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean”? I loved him in that.
Kerry said,
September 27, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Nick, what you have said there is very moving and very, very true. He had an air to him, a classic handsomeness (with those piercing azure eyes, his messy hair, his classically endowed features) that he always seemed to underplay. He was one of the most gorgeous people working in cinema, and even as his looks faded (as everyone’s does eventually) he never lost that spark in his attitude and that twinkle in his eye. Those are extremely difficult to get out of my head.
Sasha Perez said,
September 27, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I loved him in that underrated film Gosh, I hold it dear to my heart for personal reasons. Too true Kerry, he was a stunning human being, inside and out.
Justin said,
September 27, 2008 at 10:59 pm
This is very sad indeed. He was so great. And how damn smooth was this guy? I mean, like I have never seen a person more cool and suave, without even having to try, as Newman. I wish I was as smooth as him.
Dave said,
September 27, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I can’t even narrow down my favourites, but I do hope to watch as many of his films now as I can, those I have seen and loved before, those I don’t especially love, and those I have not seen, it should be a treat indeed. I might watch a few today and tonight even. I’m going to celebrate his life tonight. That’s my plan.
mirry said,
September 27, 2008 at 11:10 pm
not good news, but he had good life, good memories, leaves behind good movies, theres an upside to this huge downside in life.
Gonzalo said,
September 27, 2008 at 11:14 pm
sometimes, these things happen, and they suck, but we get over them. Newman was a legend, always will be actually, and we wont forget him. We have all his films that we love on DVD, we have our favourite cinematic moments featuring him seared into our retinas and our minds, we have a place for him in our hearts, and he has most definitely touched more people’s lives than he has not; and that is most definitely something worth celebrating Dave, I’ll join you.
rachel said,
September 27, 2008 at 11:20 pm
he was the most gorgeous man who ever lived, simple as that. wish i could have met him.
Nick Plowman said,
September 27, 2008 at 11:32 pm
He was a very, very good looking man indeed.
I just put “Butch Cassidy” on, so I’ll join the celebration too. What a great movie, I think it is my favourite of his, I really do, makes me feel so good watching it, like saying hey to an old friend. This time its going to be a little sadder though, but a good trip down memory lane nonetheless.
Sam Juliano said,
September 28, 2008 at 12:02 am
Nick, your celebration of him is the most comprehensive on the entire net! Enjoy BUTCH CASSIDY! and watch HUD right after that!
Fataculture rules!
Nick Plowman said,
September 28, 2008 at 12:07 am
I will Sam, I love Hud. A lot. I wish I owned more of his films though. I will buy some tomorrow maybe, and some of his famous salad dressing while I am at it ;)
Joshua said,
September 28, 2008 at 12:09 am
I see you added a great Newman quote up there Nick, nice, here’s another: “You can’t be as old as I am without waking up with a surprised look on your face every morning: ‘Holy Christ, whaddya know – I’m still around!’ It’s absolutely amazing that I survived all the booze and smoking and the cars and the career.” And he left a legacy to boot, bet he’s glad about that.
zeetel said,
September 28, 2008 at 12:16 am
Hud is my best, i will cry now when i watch it *sigh* life. shit!
Nick Plowman said,
September 28, 2008 at 12:19 am
Ha, I tried to work that into my post but it ended up sounding so cheap and tacky, it works far better in the comment section, lol. Newman was quite the funny man, wasn’t he? Not always in a “hahaha, rolling on the floor, stitches in my stomach” kind of way, but in a real, honest way. I don’t know, he just had a way about him. I can’t articulate it, but I sure as hell dug it
JT said,
October 1, 2008 at 5:54 am
RIP
Loved that movie. Blaze Star
coffee fiend said,
January 10, 2009 at 7:03 am
Paul Newman is a legend for his work in movies, and he’s a stud for all his work outside of movies