Paul Newman: Legend

Paul Newman, a great movie star.

In the pantheon of great movie stars of the twentieth century, Paul Newman stood taller than most. He was drop dead gorgeous, with those amazing blue eyes, a riveting deep voice and acting chops that seemed completely natural. He outlasted all of his contemporaries as a box-office attraction. He ranked in the Quigley top ten box-office stars in 14 different years from 1963 to 1986 when he was 61 years old. In 1969 and 1970 he was the number one star in the world.

He received nine Academy Award nominations as an actor, finally winning on his seventh try for The Color of Money in 1987. His nominations spanned nearly five decades, from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1958 through his final big screen performance in 2002’s Road to Perdition.

He made his movie debut in 1954 in the now forgotten biblical epic The Silver Chalice, but didn’t make his mark until he played the role of boxer Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956). Ironically the part was originally intended for James Dean before his untimely death. Ironic because Newman had screen-tested to play Dean’s brother in East of Eden a few years earlier, but director Elia Kazan felt he was too similar to Dean or perhaps that he would steal the movie.

After Somebody Up There Likes Me Newman’s career flourished and a legendary star was well on his way. He made 11 movies with his wife of 50 years, Joanne Woodward and two incredibly memorable movies with Robert Redford, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sting (1973). For my money his most iconic role will always be Cool Hand Luke (1967).

I remember watching this movie with my dad late one night in the mid 70’s. It was one of those movie experiences that can only happen to you as a child and I will never forget it. Luke refusing to give up, even when the odds were insurmountable. As he so succinctly put it, “Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand.” George Kennedy as Dragline said it best, “He’s a natural born world-shaker.” Indeed Paul Newman was. May he rest in peace.