As awards season came to a close, the final image of most “In Memory” sections of the shows was Paul Newman. The Oscar winner was shown in a variety of ways in the clips – some showed him at his most young and beautiful in scenes from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or The Long Hot Summer, which was the first film he did with Joanne Woodward, and they were married soon after the production ended. Some showed clips of his work in the middle and end of his career – his famous on-screen partnerships with Robert Redford, or trying to con Tom Cruise in The Color of Money, which finally won Newman his Oscar.

In the months since Newman died, we’ve also seen more archival footage of Newman the humanitarian, working with his Hole In the Wall kids, and giving away the millions of dollars that Newman’s Own made. He lived an extraordinary life. This week Congress finally decided to recognize it. The honor was sponsored by a Republican and a Democrat, Rep. Cohen and Rep. Jordan, who both spoke about Newman’s contributions. Reuters has more:

Paul Newman, who died last September of cancer, was given a posthumous honor on Tuesday as the U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution recognizing the iconic actor’s life and achievements.

Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat from Tennessee, introduced the resolution honoring Newman on the House floor in Washington. Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican from the actor’s native state of Ohio, was among the House members who spoke about Newman.

“His legendary acting, steely blue eyes, good humor and passion for helping the less fortunate made him one of the most prominent figures in American arts for 40 years,” Jordan said.

In a statement, Cohen called him “a talented artist whose craft has been a part of our American tapestry for over 50 years” and a person who “made the world a better place.”

Newman, who died at age 83, earned nine Oscar nominations and appeared in more than 50 movies including “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting.”

Aside from auto racing and his commitment to quiet family life outside Hollywood’s media glare, Newman was also a noted philanthropist who in 1982 co-founded Newman’s Own, a food company that has given more than $250 million to charity.

The House resolution’s approval came two days after Newman was celebrated at the Academy Awards on Sunday, where a video clip of the actor concluded an annual tribute to entertainers who died the year before.

From Reuters

As I was doing research, I discovered something odd. Though Newman was honored by the Academy and by the Kennedy Center, Paul Newman never received a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the civilian honor bestowed on outstanding Americans for their contributions to society. Refresher: Former CIA Director George Tenet has a Medal of Freedom. And not Paul Newman. Usually, artists of a certain caliber are recognized with the award – Gregory Peck received one by President Clinton, Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn were both awarded. There is absolutely no reason Newman should not have been honored with a Medal of Freedom during his lifetime, and his family should be given one in his honor posthumously. Let’s petition President Obama!

Paul Newman is shown at a photocall on 4/25/08. Credit: WENN