RIP: Paul Newman

Legendary actor Paul Newman died Friday at his home near Westport, Connecticut after a lengthy battle with cancer.

The 83-year-old leading man was a fixture in American cinema over the last six decades with memorable turns in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), The Hustler (1962), Cool Hand Luke (1967), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), The Towering Inferno (1974), Slap Shot (1977), The Verdict (1982), The Color of Money (1986), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) and Road to Perdition (2002).

The actor retired last year, his last acting gigs being 2005's Empire Falls and voice work in 2006's Cars.

But his proudest achievement may have been his 50-year marriage to actress Joanne Woodward. When asked about the durability of their marriage in the face of the temptations that come to any Hollywood leading man, Newman replied with characteristic dry wit. "Why fool around with hamburger when you have steak at home?" he said.

Comments