Paul Newman: A Life

By Shawn Levy

Book Overview

Paul Newman, the Oscar-winning actor with the legendary blue eyes, achieved superstar status by playing charismatic renegades, broken heroes, and winsome antiheroes in such revered films as The Hustler, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Verdict, The Color of Money , and Nobody's Fool . But Newman was also an oddity in Hollywood: the rare box-office titan who cared about the craft of acting, the sexy leading man known for the staying power of his marriage, and the humble celebrity who made philanthropy his calling card long before it was cool. The son of a successful entrepreneur, Newman grew up in a prosperous Cleveland suburb. Despite fears that he would fail to live up to his father's expectations, Newman bypassed the family sporting goods business to pursue an acting career. After struggling as a theater and television actor, Newman saw his star rise in a tragic twist of fate, landing the role of boxer Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me when James Dean was killed in a car accident. Though he would joke about instances of "Newman's luck" throughout his career, he refused to coast on his stunning boyish looks and impish charm. Part of the original Actors Studio generation, Newman demanded a high level of rigor and clarity from every project. The artistic battles that nearly derailed his early movie career would pay off handsomely at the box office and earn him critical acclaim. He applied that tenacity to every endeavor both on and off the set. The outspoken Newman used his celebrity to call attention to political causes dear to his heart, including civil rights and nuclear proliferation. Taking up auto racing in midlife, Newman became the oldest driver to ever win a major professional auto race. A food enthusiast who would dress his own salads in restaurants, he launched the Newman's Own brand dedicated to fresh ingredients, a nonprofit juggernaut that has generated more than $250 million for charity. In Paul Newman: A Life , film critic and pop culture historian Shawn Levy gives readers the ultimate behind-the-scenes examination of the actor's life, from his merry pranks on the set to his lasting romance with Joanne Woodward to the devastating impact of his son's death from a drug overdose. This definitive biography is a fascinating portrait of an extraordinarily gifted man who gave back as much as he got out of life and just happened to be one of the most celebrated movie stars of the twentieth century. From the Hardcover edition.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307353753
• ISBN13: 9780307353757
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Harmony
• Length: 490 Pages
• Weight: 1.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.7" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

True insight to a private man

There is not a lot out there in the general public about Newman. He kept his life pretty private. This book opens up some stories you never would have known.

Balanced and honest portrayal of Paul Newman

Paul Newman: A Life is an honest and balanced portrayal of the actor and man, Paul Newman. I feel that the author treats Newman with respect. Levy does a great job talking about Newman's movie career and his home life with his family. The book also does a great job in explaining Newman's food company and the corresponding charitable acts. Levy also discusses his involvement in a race car team. I purchased the book in the Kindle ebook format. The book was easy to read and entertaining in this format. My only complaint is the footnotes. All footnotes are given at the end of the chapter. By that time, I had forgotten what the footnote was about. The book is worth reading.

Complete Biography

Shawn Levy has written a very complete biography. He covers Paul Newman's very extensive life methodicaly and honesty. Everyone knows about the basics, most films and the racing, but not the details. They are in this book. It is especially refreshing to see more of the man behind the myth. Loved the racing stories and the behind the scenes pranks. Highly recommended!

Tasteful Biography of a Class Act!

As revealed in Shawn Levy's delightful biography, Paul Newman was many things. An actor, producer, director, race car driver and humanitarian, he was a fascinating human being - talented, analytical, grounded, private, compassionate, involved. Though his stunning, blue-eyed looks set him apart, it was, in fact, his humility, intelligence and humanity that ultimately made him the class act so many people knew and loved. Shawn Levy examines this singular man in this well-written 2009 biography from Harmony Books. Having recently slogged through biographies of Anthony Hopkins, George C. Scott and Jack Nicholson, Levy's book was a breath of fresh air...for several reasons. First, unlike those three "tortured geniuses," Paul Newman was a likeable human being. He had his faults and failings, as related in the book, but he did a fairly good job of keeping his demons under control. An atypical movie star, he had no use for Hollywood glitz and glamor. Most importantly, he never lost his innate humanity, setting the bar for Hollywood in terms of charity work. Secondly, it is so refreshing to read a well-crafted biography that never sinks to the trash tabloid level nor does it bury you with reams of needless details. PAUL NEWMAN, A LIFE is a comprehensive, critical yet affectionate and well-done account of one man who made a difference...on many levels. Levy is a wordsmith, a craftsman with a first-rate command of the English language and a perceptive eye to boot. The book runs to 445 pages yet I never had the "enough already" feeling. In short, PAUL NEWMAN, A LIFE provides a full and fascinating look at what was an intensely private man. Finishing it, there's a touch of sadness that such a talented, vital and productive individual is gone. A reporter once asked the actor what he owed his public. Newman paused for a moment and then simply said: "Thank you." Actually, Mr. Newman, it's the rest of us who should be saying "Thank you." ****** #800

A THOROUGH, SCHOLARLY BIOGRAPHY AND TRIBUTE

A typical fan, I was amazed at what I didn't know about this man. The author has produced a thorough and scholarly biography - and WITHOUT the benefit of the blessing of Paul Newman or Joanne Woodward (though the author seems to respect their reasons). The main thread of Mr. Newman's life seems to be what he made of his incredible good fortune and blessings. Unlike so many current celebrities, he knew the value of a good education (Kenyon College, Yale, Actor's Studio), hard work (from his father/uncle), conservative management of his finances, AND HUMILITY. His achievements in the world of major philanthropy ALONE - would mark his place as an American icon - let alone his work as a stage and screen actor, race car driver and business entrepreneur.

A beautiful man, A beautiful life

Paul Newman was born beautiful and led a fabulously full life, most of which he would himself contribute to what he called the "Newman luck." Luck aside, the truth is that Newman was a truly talented, committed, inventive, and gifted human being. He lived many lives: He was a film and stage actor, race car driver and team owner, director, producer, philanthropist, non-profit company owner, husband, and father. Even in a place known for its off-the-cuff marriages and nasty divorces, Newman and Joanne Woodward had one of the most celebrated marriages in Hollywood history. In fact, being a husband and father was what Paul was most proud of, even though he sometimes didn't show it well. This biography is beautifully written. Although Mr. Levy did not ever meet Paul Newman personally, the in-depth and thorough research is evident. Each of Newman's movies is covered, as well as the motivation behind them. He liked to be involved in his films from beginning to end. Even though his star was rising, he did not think that fame should include his personal life being in the public eye--a fact he often struggled with. But through his many careers, he kept his values and sense of humor. He kept his priorities straight and knew what was important to him. Newman was truly a man to be celebrated, and this book does a great job of doing just that. Reviewed by Vanessa Garcia