Hollywood isn't exactly known as the place to find role models, and over the last few decades it's been particularly devoid of people who are as humble and generous as they are talented. It's a fact that makes the place seem all the more dreary for the loss of one of its greatest.
My first encounter with Paul Newman came when The Sting happened to run on TV one day. My Dad, a fan of the movie (as much for Joplin's classic rag theme as Newman and Redford's performances), tuned me in to it. I can't say I was immediately amazed, but I was a kid. I didn't know any better.
High school brought introductions to all those manly Newman flicks like Cool Hand Luke and Butch and Sundance. I don't recall any actual dares about eating fifty eggs, but it was still the stuff of legend. He was the image of macho and cool all rolled into one and that was good enough for us at that age, but it wasn't until college that I started to appreciate the man for the amazing performer he was.
Two films changed my perception of him forever. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof proved he wasn't just a hero figure, he could handle heady stuff like Tennessee Williams. Sure Brooks' production bordered on campy at moments, but Newman was still amazing. And then there was The Hudsucker Proxy. Newman was starring in Coen Brothers films before it was cool to be in Coen Brothers movies. Looking back I can not only appreciate his support of promising filmmakers before anyone else was giving them a second look, it was a lot of fun watching him play the hardlined bad guy for a change. As versatile as he was vital, Newman became to me the kind of performer I loved to watch and would love to emulate.
Add on his commitment, not just to his craft, but to life, and he goes straight to legend status. He didn't just donate money that he had earned to charity, he took it and built legacies that would continue fueling the fires of philanthropy long after he was gone (not to mention providing the world with the best darn balsamic salad dressing known to man). His first marriage didn't work out so well, but his fifty year commitment to Joanne Woodward was the sort of love and dedication you don't see very often in people from his line of work. Maybe some could care less about that, but it's another big reason why I respect the life he lived.
I have a plan to introduce my young nephews to a good appreciation of film as they grow up and you can bet Newman will be part of it. Fortunately, I have something better for their introduction than my Dad did. When they get a little older (old enough to appreciate Cool Hand Luke, anyway) I can sit them down and re-watch Cars ( reminding them it was one of their favorites as kids). Afterwards I'll say, "Hey, you know the guy who voiced Doc? Well, he made a lot of other great movies too...and it's time you got to see some of them."
