RIP: Paul Newman
I am weeping real tears right now. This is devastating news.
The sequence in this video is my favorite in “The Hustler”. It is the heart of this great film, and one of my favorite sequences in any movie ever made. What an amazing performance Paul gives here, along with George C. Scott and Jackie Gleason.
Paul Newman was a close friend and colleague of my mother, and I first met him at the age of ten when she brought me to work with her one night on the set of “The Hustler”. He and Joanne would have dinner at our New York City apartment regularly. And early in my career as a sound re-recording mixer I had the privilege of working with Paul on two of the films that he directed, “Harry & Son” and “The Glass Menagerie”, and also the sequel to “The Hustler”, Marty Scorsese’s “The Color Of Money”.
Paul was an intelligent and articulate progressive. He had an amazing sense of humor and was a real professional, and a real gentleman. I will always value the time I had to spend with him. The work he did as an actor and a director, as well as what he did with his humanitarian food company, will live on for generations.
Rest in peace, Fast Eddie.
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About Us
Sangemon
Nyack, NY
A 50-something, empty-nesting, lefty-blogging, guitar pickin’, sound mixer and private pilot with a passion for political debate, an affinity for smart people, and a love of Beech Bonanzas and Martin guitars.
Things I’m grateful for:
1 fabulous bride of 28 years
3 brilliant kids
3 adorable grandkids
A warm home
A fulfilling career
My far-flung extended family
My lifelong friends
______________________________
Stephen Fleischman
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Fleischman’s career as a television writer-director-producer spanned more than three decades beginning in the early 1950′s. In 1959, he participated in the formation of the renowned Murrow-Friendly “CBS Reports” series. In 1983, Steve won the prestigious Columbia University-Dupont Television Journalism Award.
His memoir, “A Red in the House”, about his thirty years in network news, is now in print.
E-mail to: stevefl@ca.rr.com
I worked for P.L. and Joanne as well. It was a great experience. Love and respect both of them as two of the finest, funniest people I’ve ever known.
I’m sure today there are tears of sadness in many hidden corners of this country – being shed by folks whose lives have been touched by the kindness & generosity of the Newmans.
Very nice remembrance, Tom & thanks for leaving me the link on Facebook. Even though I never met him, I’ve been crying all morning since seeing the news – he was just such a thoroughly decent man. Did you see Ned Lamont’s tribute to him at Firedoglake? I don’t read there as much as I used to but I’m so glad I spotted that post (I love Lamont’s story about Paul Newman agreeing to do robocalls for his campaign & then testing the script he [Newman] wrote by calling people & pretending to be a robocall).
it’s hard not to admire Paul Newman for putting his money to work in such productive ways