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Paul Newman (1925–2008) -

Paul Leonard Newman was born on January 26, 1925, in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He showed an early interest in theater and studied drama after serving in the United States Navy in the Pacific during the Second World War. 

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'Picnic' (1953) -

'Picnic,' a play by William Inge, was Paul Newman's Broadway debut. During production, he met his future wife Joanne Woodward, who was an understudy. 

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'The Silver Chalice' (1954) -

Newman's big screen debut was in 'The Silver Chalice,' which the actor later called "the worst motion picture produced during the 1950s." Among others, the movie featured Virginia Mayo, Italian actress Pier Angeli, and a young Natalie Wood. 

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Setting the stage for a career in cinema -

Newman was in the original Elia Kazan-directed Broadway production of 'Sweet Bird of Youth' (1959) by Tennessee Williams, appearing alongside Geraldine Page. Both actors would reprise their roles three years later in the film adaptation. 

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'Somebody Up There Likes Me' (1956) -

Newman's breakthrough role was as boxer Rocky Graziano in Robert Wise's 'Somebody Up There Likes Me.' The actor gained considerable attention and acclaim for his portrayal of the world middleweight champion. 

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'The Long, Hot Summer' (1958) -

Newman won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role as Ben Quick in this Martin Ritt-directed drama. The film is noted for costar Joanne Woodward, whom Newman married while the movie was still in production. 

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Wedding day -

The happy couple holding a knife together as they prepare to cut into their wedding cake in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 9, 1958. They remained married for 50 years, one of the longest, happiest, and most successful Hollywood husband-wife unions. 

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'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (1958) -

Well-received by both critics and audiences, 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' brought together Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, and Burl Ives in this drama based on Tennessee Williams's play of the same name. Newman earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor with this movie. He was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. 

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'The Hustler' (1961) -

Regarded as a modern classic, 'The Hustler' was a major critical and commercial success. Newman's portrayal as small-time pool hustler "Fast" Eddie Felson garnered the actor a second Academy Award Best Actor nomination, and his first BAFTA win, for Best Actor in a Leading Role. 

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'Hud' (1963) -

Newman received only a Best Actor nod for the third time in Martin Ritt's 'Hud,' in which he plays unscrupulous and arrogant rancher's son Hud Bannon. He also garnered BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. 

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'Harper' (1966) -

Another box office smash for Newman, 'Harper' saw the actor portray Los Angeles based private investigator Lew Harper alongside an ensemble cast that included Robert Wagner and Lauren Bacall. The movie launched novelist William Goldman's career as a screenwriter. 

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'Cool Hand Luke' (1967) -

By now one of the era's top box-office stars, Newman was tipped to finally a win an Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Lucas "Luke" Jackson, a prisoner in a Florida corrections facility who refuses to submit to the system. He missed out again, although costar George Kennedy triumphed as Best Supporting Actor. Newman is pictured in a memorable scene where he attempts to down 50 hard boiled eggs in one hour. 

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'Rachel, Rachel' (1968) -

In 1968 Newman took a turn behind the camera to direct his wife, Joanne Woodward, in this often overlooked drama. The film garnered four Academy Award nominations, including Best Film. While the Oscar eluded him once again, Newman did pick up a Golden Globe for Best Director. Pictured is Newman directing a scene with Woodward. 

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'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' (1969) -

The top-grossing film released in 1969, 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' teamed Newman with rising star Robert Redford in what is regarded as one of the greatest Westerns ever made. Redford walked away with a BAFTA for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and costar Katherine Ross took home Best Actress. Newman, though BAFTA nominated, ended up empty handed! 

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'The Sting' (1973) -

George Roy Hill once again directed Newman and Redford in this 1930s-era crime caper, which also starred Robert Shaw. The film received universal acclaim and was a box office smash. 

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'The Towering Inferno' (1974) -

Newman and Steve McQueen headed an all-star cast in this memorable disaster movie, which won a slew of technical awards. Interestingly, Fred Astaire, famed for his singing and dancing roles, received his only Oscar nomination for this film.

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'Absence of Malice' (1981) -

This Sydney Pollack-directed drama-thriller earned Newman his fifth Academy Award Best Actor nomination (and sixth overall Oscar nod) for his role as a liquor warehouse owner wrongly accused of involvement in the murder of a union official. 

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'The Verdict' (1982) -

Incredibly, the following year the actor received a sixth Best Actor nomination for his work in this legal drama, directed by Sydney Lumet. By now 57 years old, everybody was wondering whether he'd ever take home the coveted statuette. He's pictured with costar Charlotte Rampling.  

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Honorary Oscar -

In 1984, the Academy, perhaps realizing its oversight, awarded the actor an Honorary Oscar. 

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'The Color of Money' (1986) -

Reprising his character "Fast" Eddie Felson from 1961's 'The Hustler,' Paul Newman finally lifted a Best Actor Oscar for his role in Martin Scorsese's 'The Color of Money.' Appearing alongside the veteran actor was Tom Cruise. 

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Best Actor Oscar win -

Paul Newman clutches his Oscar for Best Actor after appearing with Tom Cruise in 'The Color of Money.' The pair are seen smiling for the press. 

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'Nobody's Fool' (1994) -

Newman's performance in 'Nobody's Fool' was cited by many critics as among his finest late-period work. He was nominated for Best Actor by the Academy, his eighth nomination. 

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'Road to Perdition' (2002) -

The lead performances by Newman and Tom Hanks were well received by critics in this crime drama set during the Great Depression. This was Paul Newman's last movie performance for which he earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Academy. 

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'Empire Falls' (2005) -

Now 80 years old, Newman made his final screen appearance in the two-part HBO miniseries 'Empire Falls,' appearing alongside Ed Harris, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Hunt, and wife Joanne Woodward, among others. Newman ended up winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. 

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Racing career -

The actor was a motorsport enthusiast for much of his adult life. He competed in numerous racing events, including the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he finished in second place. He co-owned his own racing team and competed into his 80s. 

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Newman's Own -

In 1982 Newman, together with writer A.E. Hotchner, founded Newman's Own, a line of food products that includes salad dressing, pasta sauce, lemonade, popcorn, salsa, and wine, among other things. Still operating, all proceeds, after taxes, are donated to charity, a figure that currently numbers US$500 million. 

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Political activism -

Newman and his wife, Joanne Woodward, at the Broadway for Peace benefit in 1968, raising funds for the Congressional Peace Candidate Campaign Committee held at Lincoln Center in New York. A lifelong Democrat, for his support of Eugene McCarthy in the same year and his opposition to the Vietnam War, Newman was placed 19th on Richard Nixon's enemies list. The actor later claimed this was his greatest accomplishment. 

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Paul and Joanne -

Newman and his wife starred in 10 films together, 11 if you include the miniseries 'Empire Falls' (in which they had no scenes together). In addition, Newman directed four feature films starring Woodward. They are pictured here in 'Mr. and Mrs. Bridge' (1990). 

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Westport -

The actor being interviewed at his Westport, Connecticut, home in 2004. Both he and his wife had strong connections to Westport. Joanne Woodward became artistic director of the Westport Country Playhouse in 2000, and Newman remained a part-owner of a restaurant next to the theater until his death in 2008.

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Death -

In 2008, Newman was scheduled to make his professional stage directing debut with the Westport Country Playhouse's production of John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' but stepped down due to ill health. On September 26, Paul Newman died of cancer. His body was cremated after a private funeral service near his home. He was 83 years old. 

See also: The craziest celebrity wills and dying wishes

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