Back in January we covered reports that Paul Newman was battling lung cancer, to which he responded that the only things he was getting treatment for were hair loss and athlete’s foot. Five months later and it seems that he’s looking very frail, and more news agencies are suggesting that the lifelong smoker does have lung cancer. His rep has a cryptic statement from the man.
“Newman says he’s doing nicely,” his spokesman, Jeff Sanderson, said in a message emailed to media outlets today in answer to queries about the cancer reports.
Reached by telephone in his Los Angeles office, Sanderson declined to elaborate or give further details.
“This is what I got from him. He says he’s doing nicely, and this is the statement I wanted to share with you, and that’s what I have,” Sanderson told Reuters.
“I spoke to his office. … this is the statement that came directly from him.”
That is very cryptic, but what you come to expect from a legend like Paul Newman. OK! Magazine actually says that the rep called the reports ‘not true’, but I haven’t been able to find this elsewhere.
As well as being a great actor, he also has a successful range of ‘Paul Newman’s Own’ salad dressings, cookies and organic food products. Adding speculation that he is unwell is that he has just turned over his $120million share in the company to charity.
Paul is now 83 years old, so he might just be scaling back into proper retirement. Hopefully this is the case, since it isn’t unusual for people to live well into their 90s.
Paul and his wife Joanne Woodward celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January, which I think means they aren’t allowed back into Hollywood. They live in Westport, Connecticut currently. He was just the most attractive man in his prime, and is still working now. His last film role was the voice of Doc Hudson in Cars.
Paul Newman is shown in the header in a still from a Barbara Walters interview this spring, thanks to Splash.
I love him.
A true legend in Hollywood, a great performer and a class act as well; I wish him the best.
I met his wife once in Westport as I used to live nearby. She was a lovely woman and my thoughts go out to them. We have another friend in Connecticut who is 92, and Hollywood legends Bob Hope and George Burns both lived to be 100. Best wishes to Mr. Newman.
I respect his right to privacy and all, but either he is sick or he isn’t. If it hasalready leaked to the media and it’s true, why the mystery?
Maybe he just doesn’t want people speculating about it. If it was announced that he did have lung cancer, it would just open the floodgates with every Tom, Dick and Harry coming forward with an opinion about it, him and the evils of smoking etc etc. Which would be the last thing he needs or deserves. I think he’s owed his right to privacy here.
Hope he continues to do nicely.
I agree, geronimo. And, unlike most celebrities, Paul isn’t the sort to court publicity. He’s pure class, and after all these years, is still far more interesting and attractive than the current pack of male (and female) movie stars.
You’re right, geronimo. He and his wife have always been private, living in New England instead of Hollywood, cordial but distant to the press. He deserves to go on that way, for however long he has.
I was living in Kansas City when Joanne and Paul filmed “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge”, and they actually moved there for the time it took to film the movie, so we had sightings all over town and it was great fun for everyone. Joanne is apparently an avid movie-goer, and many people ran into her at various theaters. One friend who worked for a doctor received a phone call one day asking for an appointment, and the man identified himself as Paul Newman and she nearly laughed aloud. Thought it was a joke. She quit laughing when he walked into their office. The cool thing was that they were just people. A little better looking than many of us, certainly more wealthy, but they blended into the community nicely.
I only saw him once, I was out on the downtown streets at lunch and he was strolling from his makeup trailer to the scene, which was in a restaurant. No entourage, no paps, no body guards. Just a small-ish, nice looking older man with electric blue eyes strolling down the street, nodding at people he met. Very cool guy.
devilgirl, I have no idea how Paul Newman is choosing to handle whatever health issues he may or may not have. But based on my own experience, sometimes it’s easier to deal with them if you don’t also have to deal with well-meaning sympathy. I had a miscarriage several months ago and told very few people, because in the middle of everything it was really hard to handle the sympathy. I appreciated it, and knew that people were being kind, but it was just one more thing that took my energy and emotional focus.
I don’t know whether or not this kind of reaction is true in this case, but I do understand why someone might choose not to confirm that kind of news, even after it was leaked.
i just read on nyc eyewitness news online that paul’s neighbor and business partner has confirmed paul’s cancer battle. Hotchner told the associated press that paul gave him the news 18 months ago. he did not say what type of cancer.
If he says he is doing nicely, believe him. Just because he’s a smoker, doesn’t mean he has lung cancer. And if he did, I know he doesn’t want to be the poster boy, for all those anti-smoking groups out there. He just wants to be left alone.