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Paul Newman Biography

Birth Name:
Paul Leonard Newman
Birth Place:
Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States
Profession
Actor, producer, director, entrepreneur, race-car driver

Fast Facts

  • First performance was at age 7 in a school production of Robin Hood
  • Served in the Navy during World War II as a radio operator
  • Wanted to be a pilot, but could not because he was color-blind
  • Made his Broadway debut in 1953 in Picnic
  • Was so embarrassed by his big-screen debut in 1954's The Silver Chalice that he took out an ad in Variety to apologize for his participation in the film
  • Founded the Scott Newman Center for Drug Abuse Prevention in 1980 in honor of his son, Scott, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 1978
  • Received an honorary Oscar in 1985 and a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1993
  • Was nominated six times for the Best Actor Oscar before winning for The Color of Money
  • Donated $120 million---the entire value of his food company, Newman's Own---to charity shortly before his death in 2008

Awards

  • 2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2005Emmy-Outstanding Miniseries: nominated
  • 2005Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
  • 2003Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2003Critics' Choice Awards-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2003Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2003BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2002Toronto Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actor [Runner-up]: winner
  • 2002Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1995Berlin Film Festival-Silver Bear for Best Actor: winner
  • 1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1994Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1994New York Film Critics Circle-Best Actor: winner
  • 1994National Society of Film Critics-Best Actor: winner
  • 1994Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1987Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1986National Board of Review-Best Actor: winner
  • 1986Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1983Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1982Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1981Emmy-Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or Special: nominated
  • 1981Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1969Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
  • 1968Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1968Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 1968New York Film Critics Circle-Best Director: winner
  • 1968Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 1967Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1964Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1964BAFTA Film Awards-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
  • 1963Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1963Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1963Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1962BAFTA Film Awards-Best Foreign Actor: winner
  • 1962Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1961Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1959BAFTA Film Awards-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
  • 1958Cannes Film Festival-International Prize- Best Actor: winner
  • 1958Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1957Golden Globe-New Star of the Year - Actor: winner

Relationships