Paul Newman: Remembered by Hollywood greats Mickey Rooney, Ernest Borgnine, Patricia Neal and Cliff Roberston

Today, as the world mourns the loss of Paul Newman, one of its greatest actors and philanthropists, I thought it would be fitting to seek out the memories of several of those who knew him longest and best: his friends, co-stars, and contemporaries from Hollywood’s Golden Age, during which he began his remarkable career more than half a century ago.

After graduating from Kenyon College in 1949, Newman spent a year at Yale University’s School of Drama, then decided to try his luck in New York. There, he enrolled at the Actors Studio and learned Method acting under the tutelage of Lee Strasberg, Elia Kazan, and Martin Ritt.

His classmates included future stars Marlon Brando, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Cliff Robertson, who would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for “Charly” (1968), and who today remembered how impressed he was with Newman even then.

“He was very, very likable, straightforward, and his word was his bond -- he was an honest man,” Robertson, now 85, told me Saturday morning. Robertson also recalled that, contrary to popular belief, success did not always come easily to Newman.

“In the beginning, he did some things that were not notable that would have finished some people’s careers,” Robertson chuckled. “We go way back to ‘The Silver Chalice.’ That was his first movie,” Robertson said of the 1954 film, which he noted could easily have been Newman's last.

"Silver Chalice" was part of a string of early Newman yawners on TV and film, but Newman broke the trend following the death of his friend James Dean in 1955. Shortly thereafter, Newman inherited two of Dean's upcoming roles -- boxer Rocky Graziano in “Somebody Up There Likes Me” (1956) and Billy the Kid in “The Left Handed Gun” (1958) -- and demonstrated more depth of character in both. Subsequently, Robertson recalls, “I was always impressed with his humility” and his “lovely family.”

Ernest Borgnine, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for “Marty” (1955), came up in live television and film at about the same time as Newman, but only worked with him for the first time decades later in Hawaii on the film “When Time Ran Out” (1980).

Borgnine, now 91, became emotional this morning as he reflected on Newman’s passing: “What can you possibly say about such a wonderful, dedicated man? He was a great guy.” Like most people in and out of Hollywood, he said he learned of Newman’s prolonged illness from “reading about it in the papers.”

“I feel he is much better off, God bless him," Borgnine said. "I feel so sorry for his wife, Joanne, who is just the most lovely person, too. But, hey, he left his mark, God bless him, and you can’t say no more than that, by golly. He left not only that, but he left a wonderful thing that he’d been doing for everyone—I mean, donating all his money from different things that he’s done to help children.”

Newman was often considered a guy's guy for gritty performances in films like “The Hustler” (1961), “Cool Hand Luke” (1967), and “Slap Shot” (1977), to say nothing of his pair of buddy films opposite Robert Redford, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) and “The Sting” (1973), or his off-screen love of speed racing. Female audiences also admired him, not only for his chiseled face and sea-blue eyes, but for being known as a genuinely good guy who remained married to the same woman, the Oscar-winning actress Joanne Woodward, for 50 years.

His female co-stars were known to uniformly adore him -- Elizabeth Taylor from “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1958), Eva Marie Saint from “Exodus” (1960), and Piper Laurie from “The Hustler” (1961) have all spoken of how much they enjoyed working with him. So did Patricia Neal, the one leading lady who won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her work opposite him, for “Hud” (1963), when we spoke earlier this morning.

Neal, now 82, says she was at the beauty parlor when “somebody came in and told me that Paul had died, and I was heartbroken, because he was a beautiful man. I knew that he was a little ill, and I knew that he was probably going to die, but you know it’s just so heartbreaking when one hears it.”

Neal says she will never forget the first time she met Newman, years before they ever appeared in a film together. She had just arrived at the Actors Studio for the first time, walked in, spotted Newman, “and I couldn’t take my eyes off of him… I thought he was the most handsome thing I’d ever seen in my life.”

When they were reunited years later for “Hud,” under the direction of their former instructor Ritt, she says Newman was incredibly helpful, and that their off-screen friendship was the polar opposite of their characters’ contentious on-screen relationship: “I loved Paul. He was a gorgeous actor, and a fabulous man, and so generous with me.”

Hollywood’s beloved elder statesman Mickey Rooney, who just turned 88 and is, as Newman was, one of the last remaining greats, also offered his thoughts this morning. Rooney never worked with Newman and rarely crossed his path, but he says he always greatly admired him from afar, and counts a number of his films -- “Butch Cassidy,” “The Verdict,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” and “The Long, Hot Summer” -- among his personal favorites.

As an actor, Rooney says “[Newman] was great, he was unforgettable, and I think that’s the treasure that he leaves.” Moreover, he adds, “his character was great -- he was a gentleman, and he was kind, and considerate.”

Asked what he thinks Newman’s legacy will be, Rooney paused for a moment and then said, “I don’t emulate anybody; Paul didn’t either. We’re all individuals, and it’s just something that you have or you haven’t got—and he had it.”

-- Scott Feinberg

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For the record: An earlier version of this post listed "Absence of Malice" as a photo in the above montage. The film pictured was "Road to Perdition," and IDs are from left to right.

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Photos courtesy of 20th Century Fox and Universal Studios: (Left to right) Newman in "Cool Hand Luke," "Road to Perdition," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "The Verdict," and "The Hustler."

Comments

[Brent M.]

RIP Mr . Newman, one of the last of the good men.

[Harriette Schwartz]

Here is my little memory. It occurred in 1969. I was 19 years old, working at Warner Brothers Seven Arts in their headquarters at 666 Fifth Ave in NYC.

Stars always showed up there...from Warren Beatty to Woody Allen. It was commonplace but for me as a kid, always exciting. This particular day, everyone was all abuzz, as Paul Newman and Robert Redford were coming in to use one of the screening rooms, looking at Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. Well, all every girl wanted to do was look at Newman and Redford and I was no different. As it turned out they wanted some cold beer, and one of the secretaries I knew was taking it down to them in the screening room. I begged, weadled, pleaded to go with her, and finally she said okay. The screening room was dark, but small and so it was easy to see them sitting there and talking quietly. My heart raced wildly and I shook inside and out. I dared not say a word (as my secretary friend warned me in advance). We walked towards the two men and hearing us, they turned around in their seats, looking directly back at the two of us. She continued and brought them the cold six pack. I simply froze a few inches away because they had looked at me. Those two hunks that I could look at forever had actually looked at me! I heard them both thank her and then they turned back to the blank screen and their conversation. I stood frozen until my friend took my arm and turned me around to leave. The movie was not yet playing, or perhaps they were already done. All I do know is I have never seen two more handsome men, nor two more riveting pairs of baby blues..I thought for just a split second I had died and gone to heaven. Sitting there in that screening room, Paul Newman's handsome smiling face, turned towards me in a darkened screening room, his electric blues creating a light all their own, that is how I will always remember him.

Even though we all knew this death was coming my heart sank and tears came flowing when I heard the news this morning because where there is life there is always hope. Its not easy to bid adieu to such a beautiful human being, no matter how much preparation you have. Yes, I am glad his personal struggle is over and the pain is gone. We thankfully have his legacy on film and Newman's Own continues to help so many charities. I guess its okay now Mr. Newman, to close those baby blues and may you rest peacefully. Love, light and blessings to you and yours..Harriette Schwartz

[Tommo]

RIP to a true legend, The worl is a lesser place today...

[Connie]

My heart goes out to his family, I am deeply touched by Mr. Newmans passing. I never cry when an actor dies, but this really got to me. The people we graced this earth with are leaving us behind. I guess he was my Ari Ben Cannan . Im praying for Joanne Woodard . They are such good examples of what a Hollywood marriage should be. Even tho they lived in CT.
God Speed Mr. Newman

[salomea Kape]

A great man, a great actor- a tremendous loss I feel like a personal loss. And my pain is as if I lost a close friend. Not many famous people leave this kind of feeling. It takes a long time till that kind of "Mensch" and talent appears again. I was lucky to belong to the same generation and to trace his carere and life from the beginning.

[REGINA NELSON]

I HAVE LOVED HIM FOREVER, FIRST AS AN ACTOR, THEN AS A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED HIS WIFE, JOANNE, AS WELL.

GOD BLESS THEM BOTH AND THEIR FAMILY. HE MADE IT SO WE ALL LOVED HIM.

[F.Cardone]

I will never forget Paul Newman walking into the old Luau on Beverfy drive to meet his wife for dinner,. apparently straight from work ,wearing jeans and a washed out denim shirt. When,he was informed that he would have to wear one of the house, rack ,jackets and a clip on tie my group was mortified. Paul simply flashed a spontaneous smile, put on the ill fitting coat and sat down to dinner with his wife. A lesson in social grace I will never forget. What a gentleman!

[DOOLORES RIVELLINO]

WHEN I'M FEELING THAT NO ONE GIVES A DAMN ABOUT ANYTHING AND ANYONE I HEAR THAT PAUL NEWMAN DIED AND THEN REMEMBER HOW MUCH HE CARED AND HOW MUCH HE DID FOR SO MANY.
ALL OF US WOULD FIND SOME HAPPINESS AND SERENITY IN OUR LIVES IF WE ACCOMPLISHED A THIRD OF WHAT HE DID. NOT NECESSARILY IN TERMS OF MONEY BUT IN TERMS OF HOW HE TREATED OTHERS. HE WAS A DECENT AND LOVING MAN..THERE IS A HUGE HOLE IN THE UNIVERSE WITHOUT HIM.

[Frank Stein]

I grew up in Westport and sometimes I would see him in his crazy VW beetle with the Porsche engine. I was driving a '56 beetle convertible myself, so rusted out that when you put the top down the body leaned back and the doors flapped open. But that's another story. Around town he was known as a good man. We only get to say that about some people. Those of us who rise past our bad parts and do what we came to do. Thanks of course for all the great story telling, but even more for setting the bar as a man.

[New Englander]

Years ago, while growing up in Connecticut, we'd often see Paul Newman walking or driving about town. He was just a citizen of beautiful Westport and folks left him alone. He was a real mensch and a wonderful actor and he shall always be missed.

[Courtney M]

I agree with Mickey Rooney. Paul Newman really had it and we all not only admire his talent but have a deep respect for him regarding his marriage of not only years, but substance and quality - something the Rooney's know nothing about. If you've ever seen the Rooney's when the camera's are not present...yikes. Paul Newman was a classy guy. We'll miss him.

[Jose Alberto García]

Take your hat and your bike because in Heaven you will make them feel alive!

[Leone]

Wow - this was a really nice reflection on Mr. Newman's life. Even the comments. I'm very moved.