Paul Newman — Movies, Bio, Popularity, Filmography & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-08

Those blue eyes sold a hundred roles, but Newman turned the money around: every cent from his salad dressing empire went to charity, over half a billion dollars by the time he died.

Biography

About

Born in the Cleveland suburbs in 1925, Newman drifted through a degree in drama and economics at Kenyon College before studying under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. His first starring Broadway role came in 1953 with William Inge's Picnic; fifty years later he closed with Our Town. Between them stretched a film career that collected nine Oscar nominations — he won Best Actor for The Color of Money in 1986 — and a string of performances that defined mid-century American cool: The Hustler, Hud, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting. Away from the camera he raced cars…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Paul Newman

Paul Newman

saidFeb 2000

Building weapons that we don’t need, don’t work, and aren’t necessary, and have no mission — that’s not bad politics, that’s robbery.

— Quoted in "Working for New Priorities," interview with Anita Merina, NEA Today (February 2000)

Paul Newman

said10 Jun 1991

I had no natural gift to be anything — not an athlete, not an actor, not a writer, not a director, a painter of garden porches — not anything.

— Quoted in The Daily News (10 June 1991)

Paul Newman

said1988

The first time I remember women reacting to me was when we were filming Hud in Texas. Women were literally trying to climb through the transoms at the motel where I stayed.

— Quoted in Paul and Joanne: A Biography of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward by Joe Morella and Edward Z. Epstein (Delacorte Press, 1988, ),

Paul Newman

said1988

I don't like to discuss my marriage, but I will tell you something which may sound corny but which happens to be true. I have steak at home. Why should I go out for hamburger?

— Quoted in Paul and Joanne: A Biography of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward by Joe Morella and Edward Z. Epstein (1988), p. 157

Paul Newman

said1988