Saturday, September 27, 2008

A Tragic Day

Paul Newman died yesterday at the age of 83. I remember the first time I saw a Paul Newman movie. It was in one of my acting classes in college. The professor showed us a clip from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and I couldn't take my eyes off of that handsome young man. In the weeks following, I rented as many Paul Newman movies as I could find. They seem to all be either crap or classic. Later I found out about his charitable work and family life. When his birthday (January 26th) came around, I decided to skip my classes that day and devote my time to celebrating his birthday. It has been my custom ever since to celebrate Paul Newman Day.

I'm so sad I never got to meet him. The closest I ever came was when my friend Annya drove me past what might have at one time been his L.A. home. Lucky for me, he leaves a great legacy behind him. I can eat his spagetti sauce or rent one of his movies any time I want and be reminded that the man had class.

Click HERE to read his obituary.

Thanks you for the many calls and emails this morning, friends.

11 Wisecracks:

Mom said...

I definitely thought of you when I read the headline! (We don't get the paper yet, so I didn't know the whole story.) Will we still be celebrating Paul Newman Day instead of Katy's birthday?
It really is a tragic day.

melissa said...

Thank you for finally making a comment on my blog, Mom! I'm glad something good could come from this tragedy. :)

Anonymous said...

I think you should definitely continue Mr. Paul Newman Day! (Although, not at Katy's expense).

I wish more people worked for good things like he did. I made a donation to his Hole in the Wall Gang Camps.

They have a nice tribute to him on their site:
http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org/tribute.htm

Nicole said...

I was hoping you'd pay tribute. Let's celebrate Paul Newman Day 2009 at Sundance. We'll think of it as Butch Cassidy, though.

Kimberly said...

As I was driving down the road today and heard the news, I thought, "Oh no! Melissa's going to be so sad! What about Paul Newman day?" So don't give up on Paul Newman day. Whenever I think of Paul Newman, I think of you.

allyn said...

i had no idea until reading your post. i am so sorry for your loss and for the world's. i did actually feel a twang a pain when i saw the picture of him because i figured it was because he was gone. it wasn't paul newman day, after all. he really was a man of class...until the hbo movie about how he abused his family comes out.

Courtney said...

I definitely thought of you when I heard. I absolutely remember Paul Newman Day. Good idea to enjoy some Newman's Own! I will get on board with that!

Jim said...

Nick's father-in-law looks like Paul Newman. Maybe we can arrange for you to meet him sometime. It might lift your spirits!

melissa said...

Allyn, don't even joke!

Jim, do I know who Nick is?

Meredith said...

Sorry! That was me, not my husband Jim. Nick is my brother, and actually he married a Mikkelson (I think Mikkelsons used to be in your ward?). Do you remember Anna Mikkelson who stayed with her aunt and uncle for the summer in Cary about 12 years ago? Anyway, Nick married her sister Miriam. Confusing maybe, but her dad looks like Paul Newman.

Amy Maxwell said...

I had no idea until today! I immediately checked your blog to make sure you knew. Ironically, I actually watched the Hudsucker Proxy last week. Timely.