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I watched Paul Newman movies ever since I was a kid and when I was in high school there were a few that we studied in-depth, particularly “Cool Hand Luke”, where we wrote prosaically about looking up into the creepy, silent boss-mans face to only see our/Luke’s face reflected back at us in his mirrored sunglasses.

You knew Newman was a movie star but of those classic movie stars he felt like the one that truly put his character before his personality. Something I felt that Marlon Brando, and many others, were never successful at. The energy he brought to characters like Fast Eddie in “The Color of Money” was unparalleled for generations - look at the embarrassing remake with Tom Cruise who brought nothing, other than his shallow personality, to the role.

Newman’s “buddy” flicks with Robert Redford worked because the stories were fantastic and the camaraderie felt genuine, whether it was or not. That feeling of partnership hasn’t been brought back to the screen by anybody, not even by George Clooney, who, despite all the partying and practical jokes with Brad Pitt, never made it feel real enough for me on screen. Just watch “The Sting” and of course, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” to see how it’s really done.

Then there’s his remarkable experiment, “Newman’s Own”, which was groundbreaking and probably even changed the food industry. Yes, there have been celebrity endorsements of food products for probably the last century and a half, but never has a celebrity been so aligned with the mission and products. From the packaging design to the _organic_ ingredients, “Newman’s Own” appeared on shelves and made an impact that no one could match. Giving away proceeds of nearly a quarter billion dollars was unprecedented. The products, the humor, and the mission matched Newman’s personality and drive perfectly - look at how forced and unnatural late-to-the-gamers like Bill Gates appear in their initiatives compared to Newman. Even though they might have put more money down, it just goes to show money isn’t everything.

Newman was a regional force as well. He helped preserve and expand cultural institutions like from theater playhouses in Westport, CT, to film festivals in the Berkshires. He also helped set aside land and created environmental initiatives for others to join and build momentum.

Look at what an everyman he was: movie and stage star, devoted father and grandfather, environmentalist, entrepreneur, racecar driver, political maven, and artist. There aren’t many people like Paul Newman, and when they go, they leave a void. We were so fortunate.

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