Actor Paul Newman told friends as far back as 18 months ago that he was battling cancer, a friend and business associate said yesterday.
The founder of the Barretstown "Hole in the Wall Gang" Camp in Co Kildare last month stepped down as director of a stage play of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Menat the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut, citing unspecified health issues.
Writer A.E. Hotchner, who co-founded Newman's Own food products with the actor, told Reutersthat Newman (83), was doing fine as of two weeks ago. Asked if Newman had cancer, Hotchner said "he made it known to a lot of his friends".
Mr Hotchner, who lives near Newman and his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, in Connecticut, said he did not know what type of cancer Newman had because "I don't believe it's any of my business and I don't want to get into it."
The widely acclaimed actor of films such as The Color of Moneyand The Stingon Tuesday responded to a flurry of unconfirmed media reports that he was gravely ill with cancer by issuing a terse statement saying he was "doing nicely".
His spokesman Sanderson declined to elaborate and on Wednesday was not immediately available to comment.
Hotchner said Newman remains involved in his charitable Hole In the Wall Gang Camp for children with cancer.
Barretstown was established in 1994 by Newman who had already established two similar camps in the US.
Newman is quoted on the camp's website as saying: "When I saw Barretstown Castle I knew this was where I wanted the first European [Hole in the Wall] camp to be. I imagined a kind of medieval bazaar where children from different countries could raise a little hell together."
The work at Barretstown is described as "therapeutic recreation", or "serious fun" and is recognised as playing an important part in a child's recovery.
Children and teenagers aged from seven to 17 come to the camp from all over Ireland and Europe. They generally have one of four conditions - cancer, serious blood disorders such as haemophilia, renal failure or cystic fibrosis.
The actor used profits from Newman's Own to found the camps, which are named after a gang in his 1969 movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Since its creation in 1982, Newman's Own, which makes salad dressings, sauces and other food products, has donated more than $200 million to charity.