Paul Newman

Paul Newman was one of my heroes.

He was not only a great actor but also a great guy, a generous man, a fantastic role model and a rascal.
Rascal is a term which I've been called often throughout most of my life and one to which I admit. Other terms we won't need to discuss at this time, pholks. Enough said.

Apparently, I have always had a mischievous grin, a quality which along with unforgettable blue eyes that will always be Newman's trademarks. I'm content with being a minor league rascal with a Paul Newman grin.

“Cool Hand Luke” along with “The Sting,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “Hud,” are among my all-time favorite films.

For more years than I like to admit, I've considered Paul Newman as the epitome of being cool. He was not as outlandishly cool as Henry Winkler's Fonzie - just plain cool in a guy way. It was that grin which I associated with. I'm sure it wasn't just a part of his acting ability, just something natural which he personified to the hilt and made his characters so real. Like I said, a guy thing.

There are dozens of famous Newman scenes which film buffs and experts refer to as classics, especially in “Cool Hand Luke,” “The Sting” and “Butch Cassidy.” But my all-time favorite is the opening of “Luke” where the scene depicts a sidewalk with a string of top-less parking meter polls leading to the Luke, booze bottle in one hand and a pipe cutter in the other, slumped up against the last poll in line. The close up of that mischievous grin or personal satisfaction says all that needs to be said about the main character - Cool Hand Luke. Always the charming rogue.
I have one of the City of Visalia's parking meters, given to me by a city official when the city took meters from downtown streets. It reminds me of Paul Newman and often generates a smug grin.

“I've met, interviewed and seen lots of famous pholks in my career, including presidents, governors, television and movie stars, famous athletes, singers, etc. in various situations. I shared a cocktail or two on several occasions back in the earlier years with a couple of them, but many years ago, I picked several people whom I would like to talk with over a soda or two: John Wayne, Paul Newman, Jonathan Winters, Bob Hope and Red Skelton.
Such meetings would have had nothing to do with journalism, just a chance to talk one-on-one with them as real people. It's been said John Wayne wasn't really an actor. He was just John Wayne. Paul Newman was a trained actor but he didn't seem like an actor. He was just Paul Newman, a cool guy.

I always had the impression that what you saw with Newman is what you got. He didn't really fit the Hollywood mold. He was tremendously famous but didn't seem to care if he was or not.

He was married for more than 50 years to actress Joanne Woodward, a unique situation considering the norm of the entertainment world. And Newman again displayed his coolness by simply explaining, “When I have steak at home, why should I go out for a hamburger?” That's cool.

He had a passion for auto racing and did something about it, especially when driving during the filming of the 1969 trackside drama “Winning.”

At age 70, he became the oldest team driver in the famed 24-hour Daytona race when he and two co-drivers finished second. He was co-owner of the Newman/Haas/Lanigan racing team and a successful driver by himself for many years.

His fantastically successful independent food companies, including Newman's Own, allowed him to become one of the nation's greatest philanthropists, donating about $225- $250 million to charities.

His passion for charity was reflected in the “Hole in the Wall” camps for children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses. There are 11 such camps around the world.

Now, pholks, I ask. Is that not cool?

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com