Sep 27 2008
Ol’ Blue Eyes 2 Makes His Exit
One of Paul Newman’s most famous roles was as the bank-robbing Butch Cassidy in 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (which co-strred Robert Redford as his sidekick). Newman passed away Friday at age 83, leaving behind a film legacy of more than 50 major motions pictures. (picture courtesy of Associated Press/20th Century Fox)
Hollywood- and cinema fans- today are mourning the death of Ol’ Blue Eyes Paul Newman.
(The late Frank Sinatra was the original Ol’ Blue Eyes, but Newman arguably was the second most famous fella with a set of piercing blue eyes. He once joked, when discussing death and dying: ”I picture my epitaph: ‘Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown.’ ” FYI- they never did.)
Newman, 83, passed away at his Westport farmhouse Friday, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Some of the 10-time Oscar nominee’s classic works include Absence of Malice, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Cool Hand Luke, Exodus, Hud, Best Picture winner The Sting and The Verdict. He won his first of three Oscars (the other two were honorary) for 1987’s The Color of Money, in which Newman revisited his 1961 role from The Hustler, “Fast Eddie” Felson.
As legendary a figure as Newman was, I haven’t seen any of his films (his final screen appearance was 2002’s The Road to Perdition). I’ve always known who Paul Newman was- whether it was as handsome actor, condiment king (especially with his lines of salad dressing), race car driver, philanthropist or political activist- I just never made the effort and sat down to watch a Newman feature.
However, now that another film great has passed on to the next stage of life, it may be time to investigate some of his more notable works.
In the meantime, with all the hats Newman donned during his lifetime, it’s unlikely his spirit will be sitting idle for very long. And that should give family, friends, Hollywood and fans comfort enough to know that Fast Eddie will never stop hustlin’ .
