Remembering the Good Works of Paul Newman

Jen Chaney — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:40:00 GMT

You may have heard the breaking news this morning that Paul Newman died of cancer at the age of 83. We'll remember Newman for many things: His roles in such classics as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "Cool Hand Luke," his passion for car racing and his piercing blue eyes. Our kids may be most likely to associate him with the voice of Doc Hudson in Pixar's "Cars." But Newman should also be honored for something else: Setting a solid example as a husband, father and philanthropist.

Yes, he was married for almost a decade before divorcing Jackie Witte, the mother of his first three children. And their divorce sounds like it was more than a little drawn-out and sticky. But once he wed co-star Joanne Woodward, he found his soulmate and stayed unwaveringly by her side for more than 50 years, creating a lasting Hollywood union that may never again be matched. Together they raised three more children, starred in several films and gave back to their community in incredibly generous ways.

I'm guessing almost everyone reading this blog has a Newman's Own product -- some microwave popcorn, pasta sauce or salad dressing -- in his or her refrigerator or kitchen cabinet. Newman's food business, which he founded with friend A.E. Hotchner in 1982, did something astounding: It donated all of its profits to charity. Among those charities were Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang camps, which serve as havens for gravely ill children both here in the U.S. and abroad in places like Africa and Vietnam. The Hole in the Wall Web site already is paying tribute today to Newman and praising his service to young people.

As a father, Newman confronted his own grief when his only son, Scott, died of a drug overdose in 1978. Though he undoubtedly carried that grief with him every day, he demonstrated how to handle such a loss with class and to channel his sadness into something positive. He formed another valuable non-profit, the Scott Newman Center, which focused on anti-drug education.

In so many ways, Newman set an example about how to live life fully, as a parent, spouse, artist and fully engaged member of his community. He will be missed by many, but there is solace in knowing that his multi-faceted legacy lives on, in his movies and in the many people's lives he transformed through his good works.

Image: Reuters

Six Rock-Solid Celebrity Marriages

Jen Chaney — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:02:00 GMT

As I read about the sad death of Bernie Mac over the weekend, I took note that the "King of Comedy" and his wife Rhonda maintained a healthy marriage for 30 years. That's admirable under any circumstances, but the fact that they stayed together despite the pressures and pleasures of Bernie's fame is doubly impressive.

While many of us gnaw on any gossip we can find about Hollywood marriages that have hit snags or deteriorated, some celebrities continue to stay happily married and raise seemingly stable families. Today -- as many send their sympathies to Bernie's grieving wife Rhonda -- we at Strollerderby salute six more of the most rock-solid famous couples ever.

1. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward: They've been married for 50 years, they have three daughters together and they've co-starred in plays and films multiple times. Theirs' might be the quintessential rock-solid Hollywood marriage and one that, sadly, we may be hearing more about in the near future. Newman, who suffers from cancer, reportedly has just weeks to live. Here's hoping he stays by his wife's side as long as he can.

2. Billy and Janice Crystal: The "When Harry Met Sally..." star has claimed that Janice, his wife of 38 years, is the only woman he's ever dated. Whether or not that's true, it's clear that he was with her before he got "Soap," "Saturday Night Live" or "City Slickers" and he's still with her today. They have two daughters together.

3. Denzel and Pauletta Washington: How easy would it be for Denzel to leave his wife for, oh, pretty much any woman on the planet who would happily hang on his arm? But he hasn't. He and wife Pauletta wed in 1983, are still married and have raised four children together. The Washingtons have got game, not to mention class.

4. Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara: Together, they were the comedy team of Stiller and Meara in the 1950s. But Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara later found fame on their own, in movies, on stage and, most recently, on TV shows like "Seinfeld" and "Sex and the City." Through it all, they have been husband and wife for 54 years and boast two children who also found success in Hollywood: Amy Stiller and some guy named Ben Stiller.

5. Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick: Next month the star of "Footloose" and the star of "The Closer" will celebrate 20 years of marriage. Somehow they have nurtured busy careers while also nurturing two grown children. And I do mean busy: Sedgwick currently spends half of the year in L.A. filming "The Closer" and, as we all know, Bacon has starred in a movie with almost every working actor in the business.

6. Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw: The director of "E.T." got a costly divorce from Amy Irving before he finally settled down with Capshaw. But once they tied the knot, it stayed tied. The couple has been married for almost 17 years and has five kids together, plus two more, one from each of their respective previous marriages. The second time at the altar seems to have been the charm for both.

Strollerderby : Paul Newman

Remembering the Good Works of Paul Newman

Six Rock-Solid Celebrity Marriages