UPDATE Paul Newman NOT dying of lung cancer

When the National Enquirer said Hollywood legend Paul Newman was reportedly dying of lung cancer, lots of people jumped, including the Los Angeles Times.

But the 83-year-old actor’s agent, Toni Howard, told E! News the reports are “not true.” Whew.

Rags and Web sites were saying Newman was diagnosed at New York’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center not long ago. Fox News’ Roger Friedman pointed out he first broke news that Newman was seeing an oncologist several months ago.

“He’s a fighter,” a Newman friend told Fox News Tuesday. “And he’s going to keep fighting.” Fighting the lies, apparently.

Meanwhile, Friedman reports that Newman has already turned over the whole of his Newman’s Own food company to his charitable Newman’s Own Foundation, which only further strengthens Newman’s classiness. The move, reported at some $120 million, was done over a two-year period in 2005 and 2006. 

Besides that, the only news is the actor continues to live in Westport, Conn., with his wife of 50 years, Joanne Woodward.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Source and source and source

Comments

[gb]

I'm just researching Paul Newman and finding that he has just passed. It's good to hear everyones views. I think Paul caught a lot of flack here, and that means at least people have oppinions which is at least a start. Good oppinions and knowledge takes a willingness to research and find the real truth. I love a good discussion without blood to get to the root of things and Paul was one of those individuals that intrigued me. Now of course I can no longer go face to face. We may not have agreed on all things, but just because you have money doesn't mean you will give it away for good causes. Some poeple have passion enough to make it count. Even his salad dressings will probably be an ongoing legacy. How can you possibly hate that. And life is all about Passion. Thanks for your time.
gb

[Susie]

While some may disagree with Paul Newman's political ideologies, I think it is truly shamefull that said people would take the moment of his death to air petty grievances like the ones in some of the comments here. Newman was politicaly mean? How? He had the temerity to have his own opinion about things? He was impasioned? What does that even mean? Paul Newman was a fantastic actor and a good man.

Paul Newman,somebody up there likes you...but many more people down here love you.

Long live fast Eddie Felson.

:)

[Nelson Osorio]

Paul Newman is a class act. He was my mother's (Celia) employer for many years, and he was always a very generous and caring human being.
She helped her when she was ill in the hospital; he even provided her with the services of his own physician.
I just want to thank Mr. Newman for his kindness, and to let him know that my mother is praying for him.
Sincerely,
Nelson Osorio

[Pat]

Crikey: So if you have not personally heard of something happening it means it didn't? How utterly narcissitic and conceited, what a weird world you live in.

[Yolanda]

I don't believe he is as good as many of these posts, he was already loaded so the philanthropy is nice but it hardly put him out to do it. He used alot of it to further his causes and squelch others who disagreed with him. I do admire his marriage of 50 years. Let's be real people, he is no paragon of virtue, but not a slimeball either.

[Lee]

He referred to another politician as being "dumb as a clock" and many other nasty, personal attacks. He is entitled to his politics for sure, but not to be childisha and name calling.

[R.L.]

Raised a very conservative Democrat, and having voted Republican on a few occasions over the course of the past few decades, it's likely I harbor political views vastly different from Paul Newman's. There've even been times I've cussed the man for some of his more abstract political points; but if there's one thing for which I love him more than his acting ability, it's his generous heart. Since 1982 Newman has donated $175 million in profits from his salad dressings to a wide variety of charitable causes in this country, and indeed his incredible spirit of philanthropy is precisely what Jesus asked of all men.

I certainly hope it's untrue that the man's dying of cancer. I'd voluntarily give up a few years on my own life if only the gesture might provide Newman a few more years of his own.

[Downtown Res.]

I like the Juice.

Pathetic is like one of those whiney old maids who has nothing better to do then protest the violation of their delicate sensibilities by what they perceive as obscenity on TV.

Don't like stories about celebrities? Don't read this blog jacka$$.

[Pathetic]

It's so pathetic that this blog just regurgitates unoriginal trash from the Internet and then that the bar has been lowered for news on tampabay.com that this smut falls under "Breaking news."

[Pathetic]

It's so pathetic that this blog just regurgitates unoriginal trash from the Internet and then that the bar has been lowered for news on tampabay.com that this smut falls under "Breaking news."

[crikey]

I'm with Drew, I've never heard anyone describe Paul Newman as "politically mean" How is helping kids with cancer, rebuilding old theaters and funding environmental cleanup programs mean? What a skewed world view you have

[Drew]

How was he politically mean? He was politically active and through his company had offered healthy food to millions while pouring all its profits to the Hole in the Wall Gang which provides camping experiences to children sick with cancer and blood diseases. Over a 1000 children a summer are given this opportunity each year. If only more people had such agendas. Sounds like sweetness and light to me.

[slapshot]

Reggie Dunlop will never die; Paul Newman's role in the greatest movie, Slapshot, is immortal. Hang in there Coach

[Pat]

While he is hardly a class act, I am sorry he is so sick. While a good actor, he was politically mean and used his food business to further that agenda. He has that right, just saying he is not all sweetness and light. Nobody is.

[Powerage]

Sorry to hear this. He is in 2 of my favorite movies, The Sting and The Color of Money. Good luck Paul!

Whenever they asked him if he fooled around on his wife he would say: "why go out for hamburger when you could have steak at home?" Probably not an expression one would use today, but back then it was viewed as a compliment to his wife.

[beachbum]

Whenever they asked him if he fooled around on his wife he would say: "why go out for hamburger when you could have steak at home?" Probably not an expression one would use today, but back then it was viewed as a compliment to his wife.

[Tom]

I first saw Paul in 1968 when he was campaigning for Eugene McCarthy in the Wisconsin primary. I remember Newman made a quick stop at the local airport for a short stump speech by himself without the candidate and I went there to see if he really wore a bottle opener on a chain around his neck. He didn't, but he was way cool.

[TechRider]

He has always been a class act.

[TechRider]

He has always been a class act.