Stage and Screen Legend Paul Newman Passes Away at 83

Paul Newman, star of stage and screen lost his long battle with cancer on Friday September 26th, he was 83 years old. His passing was announced by his publicist this morning.

A celebrated actor he had won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, and an Emmy award, along with many honorary awards. He has won several national championships as a driver in Sports Car Club of America road racing and his race teams have won several championships in open wheel Indy Car racing.

Newman made his Broadway debut in the original production of William Inge's Picnic with Kim Stanley. He later appeared in the original Broadway productions of The Desparate Hours and Sweet Bird of Youth with Geraldine Page. He would later star in the film version, which also starred Page. He last appeared on Broadway in the 2003 production of Thorton Wilder's Our Town for which received a Tony Award Nomination.

Paul Newman started his road as an actor in theater and on television during the 1950s, and went on to become one of the world's most enduring and popular film stars, a legend held in great awe and respect by his acting peers. He was nominated for Oscars 10 times, winning one regular award and two honorary ones, and had major roles in more than 50 motion pictures, including Cool Hand Luke, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Exodus, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Verdict, The Sting, Absence of Malice and Nobody's Fool.

Newman worked with some of the greatest directors of the past half century, from Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston to Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese and the Coen brothers. His co-stars included ElizaBeth Taylor, Lauren Bacall, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and, most famously, Robert Redford, his sidekick in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting.

He was also well known as the founder of Newman's Own, a food company from which Newman donates all profits and royalties to charity. As of May 2007, these donations have exceeded over $220 million dollars.

He was married to actress Joanne Woodward, they had three daughters together, Claire, Elinor and Melissa. He is also survived by two children from his first marriage to Jackie Witte, daughters Susan and Stephaine, their son, Scott died from an accidental drug overdose in 1978.

He passed away at his long-time home in Westport, Connecticut surrounded by his family and friends.

Photo Credit Kerry Long