Actor Paul Newman dead at age 83

By Howard Kissel and Larry McShane
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Updated Sunday, September 28th 2008, 2:41 AM

Paul Newman, the philanthropist actor whose ice-blue eyes and undeniable cool made him one of Hollywood's most iconic and revered stars, died after a long battle with cancer.

The 83-year-old legend, whose half-century career paired him with the screen's greatest actors and directors, passed away quietly Friday at his farmhouse near Westport, Conn., publicist Jeff Sanderson said Saturday.

The 10-time Oscar nominee - star of "The Hustler," "The Sting" and "Cool Hand Luke" - was surrounded "by his beloved family and the close circle of friends that had supported him through his last days," Sanderson said.

The actor died a week after sitting with one of his five daughters in the garden of his country home, sharing the fading summer.

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"It's been a privilege to be here," Newman told her, providing his own epitaph.

Although the intensely private Newman kept details of his illness quiet, there were unconfirmed reports he was receiving outpatient treatment for lung cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

In a statement released in June, Newman refused to confirm or deny he was fighting lung cancer, insisting that he was "doing nicely."

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In 2006, he told an interviewer that he was surprised he had lived as long as he had.

"It's absolutely amazing that I survived all the booze and smoking and the cars and the career," Newman said.

With his piercing eyes and unflappable persona, Newman became a fixture on any list of screen legends, box office stars or sex symbols. He created a succession of indelible cinematic anti-heroes in "The Hustler" with Jackie Gleason, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" with Robert Redford, "Cool Hand Luke" with George Kennedy, and "The Verdict" with James Mason.

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The Ohio native and three-time Oscar winner transcended the role of mere movie star; Newman excelled as a director, race car driver and philanthropist.

His Newman's Own brand of salad dressing, popcorn and other products generated more than $250 million for charities. "My salad dressing grosses more than my movies," he later joked.

Newman's Hole in the Wall camps have hosted more than 135,000 sick children.

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Newman had three daughters - Elinor, Melissa and Claire - with Joanne Woodward, his wife of 50 years, and two - Susan and Stephanie - with his first wife, Jackie Witte. Newman and Witte's son, Scott, died at the age of 29 from an accidental drug overdose. Newman had eight grandchildren.