“Cool Hand Luke” came out the year I graduated from high school and forever defined what it meant to be cool for me. And he was cool at every stage in life, from “Hud” and “The Hustler,” through “Absence of Malice” (one of my all-time favorite movies) and “Nobody’s Fool.” In between he was Butch and the brains of “The Sting.” He may have been ever cooler in real life; a long marriage to a very cool woman, the inventor of a successful line of consumer products that benefited disadvantaged children, a beer drinker, and a for-real race car driver – not some celebrity poser. And of course, he was a Buckeye, and an American original. I’ll miss him.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
RIP Paul Newman
“Cool Hand Luke” came out the year I graduated from high school and forever defined what it meant to be cool for me. And he was cool at every stage in life, from “Hud” and “The Hustler,” through “Absence of Malice” (one of my all-time favorite movies) and “Nobody’s Fool.” In between he was Butch and the brains of “The Sting.” He may have been ever cooler in real life; a long marriage to a very cool woman, the inventor of a successful line of consumer products that benefited disadvantaged children, a beer drinker, and a for-real race car driver – not some celebrity poser. And of course, he was a Buckeye, and an American original. I’ll miss him.
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13 comments:
I just channeled Paul Newman and he'd like to posthumously set the record straight. These are his words:
"First, I'm kinda glad I croaked when I did. You know how I was dreading being trotted out on a walker for one of their stupid Lifetime Achievment Awarrds? With my luck, they'd make me present something to that puke Shia Labeouf.
And lemme hip you to Joanne. I only married her 'cause she dialed me into William Morris. Once my career took off, I tagged every ass in Hollywood except Rock Hudson's.
Will SOMEBODY please tell Redford to spring for botox and a haircut? He's starting to look like Cousin It... with leprosy.
Here's another newsflash. I loved racing cars yesiree - and never got behind the wheel with less than a six-pack freshly chugged. I dunno if I drove any worse, but I'm DAMN sure I had more fun. Tell those gunts at MADD to have a drink and lighten up.
A little secret about my salad dressing... now and then I'd swing by the loading dock and take a hot, long wee in a few bottles of Vinagrette, just to see if anyone noticed the extra tang. I guess not. I wanted them to market a special flavor -- 'Toss My Salad,' but supermarkets refused to stock it. First Amendment, my ass.
Best thing about the 'better place' I'm in now? Free high speed internet.
While I've been typing this, I downloaded Eva Mendes toying herself in a Merry Widow. Hey - pass me some 'Newman's Own' olive oil, will ya? An gimme some privacy!"
I'm speechless. the vinagrette was my favorite.
Newman was cool, for sure. Great at playing guys who were tough but not mean. His brand's longetivity and success was pretty amazing when you consider how cutthroat the grocery business can be.
Loved him in everything from Long Hot Summer and Cat on a Hot tin roof to Hud to Hustler to Road to Perdition.
Proud Kenyon grad. Gave the school $10 million last year. Walks the walk.
Punching out Charlotte Rampling in the Sheraton Russel bar was a classic (The Verdict).
His academic career includes getting kicked out of Ohio University.
One side note. An old friend of my mother's is an aging actress in a long term care facility. Paul Newman had been picking up her tab.
Gotta love Paul for making Nixon's enemies list!
Great actor, humanitarian and all-around good guy.
RIP
It should be noted that Newman spent almost as much time @ Nelson Ledges as we did. I'm challenging anyone to an egg eating contest in his honor.
yeah GaGa, but while at NL i bet he never swam neaked with your first (and 3rd) wife.
I believe he was also a tail gummer during WWII. That not only lucky to be alive but also a hero to boot.
I TALKED TO MY 3RD WIFE.SHE'S DENYING EVERYTHING. SHE TOLD ME TO ASK MY 6TH & 7TH WIVES. THEY WERE THE LIBERATED ONES.
My favorite Paul Newman story comes from his racing. Early on he would race his Datsun 510 at a Nelson Ledges which is a track near our hometown of Warren. After a day of racing he was sitting around with a group of fellow raceers and JoAnn Woodward. They consumed mass quantities of beers and told many stories. JoAnn did announce to the group that she couldn't understand how someone that could drink that much beer and fart that much could be such a sex symbol.
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