In my post earlier today, I cited Paul Newman as an example of a successful artist who managed not to let all the ego-stroking go to his head. Later I remembered this very nice tribute by David Letterman that you will enjoy if you are a Newman fan.
My favorite Newman quote: When he was asked why he stayed married to Joanne Woodward for 50 years when thousands of beautiful women were throwing themselves at him every day, he said “Why go out for a burger when you have steak at home?”.
I would like at least to know his name
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? Is this a reference to the Letterman bit, which I’m not viewing?
If you’re asking about Newman, his name was Newman. Really. His father ran a fairly well-known sporting goods store in Cleveland called Newman-Stern. At least half of the name was eponymous.
When he was well into his 40′s he took up driving racing cars as a sideline, one at which he was reasonably successful (national championships and 2nd place at Le Mans one year). He kept driving until he was well into his 60′s, and when asked why he kept doing it he said something to the effect of, “After all these years I finally found something I’m good at.”
THIS is why they were trying so hard to get Dave off the air recently. He’s powerful, and he espouses caring for your fellow man.
If Dave Letterman started an Honest Bank and credit card company, and an Honest Insurance (medical, etc.) company, putting his power, prestige and energy into making it work and ensuring that it STAYED honest, it would be Huge, Huge, Huge, Huge. All the data would be flowing into honest hands, and would be used to help push honesty and caring back into our society in many ways.
Dave Letterman is, by most accounts I’ve heard, not a nice person at all. But he’s extremely self-critical and seems to admire people who are less nasty than he is.
Yo, Matt, Your post makes me wonder if you even watched Letterman’s Newman tribute. If you did not, you might be surprised to hear Dave go ON and ON and ON, with great feeling and powerful eloquence, about what a wonderful man Paul Newman was for taking care of his fellow human beings. Dave’s not faking it, Matt.
I loved seeing Newman on Letterman’s show over the years, and I still remember the pang of sadness I felt on one of his last appearances when I noticed that Newman was now speaking with an old man’s voice. A long life, well-lived, but it would have been really nice to have him around longer.
When I was in college in Galway in the west of Ireland in the early 70s, Paul Newman dropped in once to give a talk while he was making a movie (maybe he was even staying with John Huston, who had a house nearby).
It was pretty subdued because I think we all stared with amazement at this superstar in our midst. John Huston’s guests did not habitually drop in to meet the local University students.
He was a real gentleman and had a Hole in the Wall house here in Ireland.
PS The film was “The Mackintosh Man” with James Mason - a mediocre thriller, but some nice views of the local scenery. “Cool Hand Luke” is on my list of all-time favourites.