Legendary film star Paul Newman has died after a long battle with cancer, a spokesman said today.
Mr Newman, who was 83, died last night, said his Los Angeles-based spokesman Jeff Sanderson.
Mr Newman appeared in some 60 movies, including
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,
The Hustler,
Butch Cassidy
and the Sundance Kid, and
The Sting. He earned nine Oscar nominations for acting and won the best actor honor for 1986's
The Color of Money.
Famed for his philanthropy as well as his acting, Mr Newman was married to Oscar-winning actress Joanne Woodward for more than 50 years, and had successful side careers as an auto racing driver and creator of a line of food products, Newman's Own, that bore his name and face on their labels.
The "Newman's Own Foundation," took profits from that company and sponsored numerous charitable organisations. Newman also founded his "Hole in the Wall" Camps, which provided fun summer breaks for children around the world suffering from life-threatening illnesses.
Tributes poured in for the actor today. "Paul's Newman's craft was acting. His passion was racing. His love was his family and friends. And his heart and soul were dedicated to helping make the world a better place for all," Robert Forrester, vice-chairman of the Newman's Own Foundation, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the President, Mary McAleese, extended her sympathies to Mr Newman's family.
"Paul Newman was a true friend of Ireland. I have fond memories of several meetings with him, including most recently, at the American Ireland Fund Annual Dinner in New York last year," she said.
"Mr Newman made a huge commitment to children with serious illness and he also founded the Hole in the Wall Camps, which were designed to assist and bring joy to the lives of these children. He took a particular interest
in the Camp he established on the Barretstown Estate, in partnership with the Irish Government, in 1994.
"Paul Newman rightly achieved fame for his performances as an actor, however, he will always have a special place in the memory of Irish people for his inspirational role at Barretstown over the last 14 years."
Former taoiseach Albert Reynolds paid tribute to the actor today, describing him as "an inspirational character". Mr reynolds met Mr Newman when the actor was looking for an Irish home for his Barretstown Gang charity. "It was Albert Reynolds who brought Paul Newman to Ballymore Eustace, where he found the estate to be enchanting and an ideal location for his children's charity," a spokesman for Mr Reynolds said.
British actor Daniel Craig, who appeared alongside Mr Newman in
Road to Perditionin 2002, said: "He was one
of the greatest screen actors of all time and a beautiful man. I think an era just ended."
American Oscar winner Kevin Spacey said: "Paul Newman was a great humble giant. He said it was all down to luck, but the rest of us know it was his talent, wit and generous heart that made him the star he was.
"He used his success to help others and did it without wanting a lot of credit.
"He should be an example to everyone in the acting profession because he seemed to have had his ego surgically removed.
"A man who was easy going, who didn't like to be fussed over and truly deserved the admiration and affection he had from millions all over the world. I will miss him greatly."
British actor Kenneth Branagh said: "I knew him only a little; at work, on the race track and in his charity.
"In all cases the common feature was his easy smile, his unshakeable determination and his unaffected and sincere concern for others. He was one of nature's gentlemen."
Robert Redford, who starred alongside Mr Newman in
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidand
The Sting, said
today: "There is a point where feelings go beyond words.
"I have lost a real friend. My life - and this country - is better for his being in it."
Actress Sally Field, who co-starred in
Absence of Malice, said of the actor: "Sometimes God makes perfect people and Paul Newman was one of them."
Mr Newman was born in a Cleveland suburb on January 26th, 1925, and was a Navy radio man in the Pacific during World War Two. Afterward, he went to Kenyon College in Ohio on a football scholarship but took up acting after being cut from the team because of a bar-room brawl.
After his father's death, Mr Newman helped run the family sporting goods store before heading to the Yale Drama School.
He ended up in New York, finding bit parts in TV and a Broadway role in
Picnicin 1953. His first major movie role was portraying boxer Rocky Graziano in
Somebody Up There Likes Me.
Reuters