Paul Newman (1) (1925–2008)

Between the years of 1986-1991, Paul Newman worked with the screenwriter and close friend Stewart Stern in dictating an oral history of his life. At the time, Newman was in his early sixties, looking back at his life and years as one of the best film actors of his generation. What he hoped to provide was an honest, warts and all account of his life. For readers hoping to find out more about the films he was involved in, they will come away disappointed. While many of his movies are show more mentioned, this memoir focuses on his off-stage personal life.

In The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man, Newman presents a detailed account of his troubled childhood, excesses involving alcohol, his insecurities and failures as a husband and father in his first marriage. It includes the guilt he felt later with the death of his son Scott from a drug overdose. Throughout, Newman tries to be honest about what he considers his many faults. He is harder on himself than most readers will be. The picture given is of a man who was far from perfect, but still remained caring of others and generous with his money and political activities to make the world a better place.

His love for his second wife Joanne Woodward comes across loud and clear, although little is revealed about their personal life together. And while his exceptional charity work is touched upon, he downplays taking credit for it, suggesting it was the least that he could do. This oral history was not published until 2022, fourteen years after his death. Beyond a doubt Newman comes across as a flawed individual, but somehow even more likable than his film persona. Stripped of the glamor that accompanies fame, it shows a man who spent a lifetime struggling to overcome his darker impulses, humble and thankful for a success he never fully accepted as deserved. This memoir is refreshing because of its brutal honesty. show less

The format for this memoir/autobiography of one of Hollywood’s most respected actors is a bit unconventional. About 80% of the narrative are Paul Newman’s own words as recorded in transcribed interviews with one of his best friends from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The other 20% are comments from friends and movie industry colleagues as well as relatives. Newman’s equally famous wife, Joanne Woodward, also weighs in periodically in the book as do his children from two marriages. show more The story of Newman’s life is extremely candid, revealing the warts as well as what was behind “those eyes.” Drinking played an important part of Newman’s life, but unlike classic alcoholics, he seemed to know exactly when he was about to go over the alcohol cliff and then defied that gravity. His work was never affected by his drinking, nor, apparently were the relationships with his family and friends. In many respects, Paul Newman was a functioning drunk. I made a list of Newman’s films that I wanted to either watch for the first time or revisit. In some cases, I couldn’t remember whether or not I had seen them. The list is about seven movies long. Having the back story on his making of these films should give me a new perspective on them as I watch them all these years later. I wouldn’t consider myself a Paul Newman fan necessarily, but I have always liked his movies, and this book made me appreciate Newman as a man and an actor much more. I highly recommend it to fans and others like myself. show less

This is as close we will ever get to an autobiography of the legendary actor-director-race car driver, Paul Newman. He of the spectacular blue eyes. Awarded four stars on Goodreads, but that might be a bit generous. I’m a fan too.

But THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN isn’t technically an autobiography. It's close. Here’s how it came about.

About 20 years before he died at the age of 83, Paul Newman partnered up with friend and screenwriter Stewart Stern (Rebel Without A Cause), show more intending to write an autobiography. Newman was extensively interviewed by Stern and those interviews were transcribed. Stern also interviewed many friends, colleagues, and family members. Altogether, this research phase lasted five years. Then both Newman and Stern stopped.

Were they overwhelmed by the amount of material? Did Newman lose his urge to publish? Did someone close to him object? Who knows? But the project was not finished.

Then, about ten years AFTER Newman died in 2008, in an old family storage unit, producer Emily Wachtel found the transcripts, all fourteen thousand pages. She suggested that something be done with them. Though the original tapes were long gone, Newman's family, past the initial pain their grief, agreed that Newman's original project should be completed, with editing help from David Rosenthal. One of Newman's three daughters from his marriage to Joanne Woodward, Melissa, wrote an Introduction. Another daughter Clea wrote an Afterword.

This isn't your typical Hollywood memoir. There's much more introspection. Which is partly why I found most of the book quite interesting. It focuses on Newman’s own interest in figuring himself out. Many will be surprised to discover he was actually a deeply insecure, often self-loathing, remote man who yearned for intimacy and, at the same time, did everything in his power to run from it. It’s quite a frank book where Newman is open about the advantages and disadvantages of his exceptional looks. And also examines deeply personal issues — his distant and sometimes cruel parents, his own infidelity and alcoholism, and the early death of his eldest child, Scott.

At the end I do feel I understand more of who he was. Particularly with the interspersed insights from family, friends, and colleagues. The feeling I am left with is that Newman was a deeply sad human being-- despite his looks, professional success, wealth, loving family, and extensive philanthropic work. Despite appearances, nobody really does have it all. show less

This is as close we will ever get to an autobiography of the legendary actor-director-race car driver, Paul Newman. He of the spectacular blue eyes. Awarded four stars on Goodreads, but that might be a bit generous. I’m a fan too.

But THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF AN ORDINARY MAN isn’t technically an autobiography. It's close. Here’s how it came about.

About 20 years before he died at the age of 83, Paul Newman partnered up with friend and screenwriter Stewart Stern (Rebel Without A Cause), show more intending to write an autobiography. Newman was extensively interviewed by Stern and those interviews were transcribed. Stern also interviewed many friends, colleagues, and family members. Altogether, this research phase lasted five years. Then both Newman and Stern stopped.

Were they overwhelmed by the amount of material? Did Newman lose his urge to publish? Did someone close to him object? Who knows? But the project was not finished.

Then, about ten years AFTER Newman died in 2008, in an old family storage unit, producer Emily Wachtel found the transcripts, all fourteen thousand pages. She suggested that something be done with them. Though the original tapes were long gone, Newman's family, past the initial pain their grief, agreed that Newman's original project should be completed, with editing help from David Rosenthal. One of Newman's three daughters from his marriage to Joanne Woodward, Melissa, wrote an Introduction. Another daughter Clea wrote an Afterword.

This isn't your typical Hollywood memoir. There's much more introspection. Which is partly why I found most of the book quite interesting. It focuses on Newman’s own interest in figuring himself out. Many will be surprised to discover he was actually a deeply insecure, often self-loathing, remote man who yearned for intimacy and, at the same time, did everything in his power to run from it. It’s quite a frank book where Newman is open about the advantages and disadvantages of his exceptional looks. And also examines deeply personal issues — his distant and sometimes cruel parents, his own infidelity and alcoholism, and the early death of his eldest child, Scott.

At the end I do feel I understand more of who he was. Particularly with the interspersed insights from family, friends, and colleagues. The feeling I am left with is that Newman was a deeply sad human being-- despite his looks, professional success, wealth, loving family, and extensive philanthropic work. Despite appearances, nobody really does have it all. show less