UPDATE: Read our full eulogy, "Paul Newman, Racer, Remembered."
Paul Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar who personified cool as an activist, popcorn impresario, the anti-hero of such films as "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money" and most importantly to us, as a race car driver and motoring enthusiast, has died. Sources tell us Newman died Friday after a long battle with cancer at his farmhouse near Westport. He was 83. UPDATE: Confirmation from the AP. Here's a taste of their obituary:
In the 1970s, Newman, admittedly bored with acting, became fascinated with auto racing, a sport he studied when he starred in the 1972 film, "Winning." After turning professional in 1977, Newman and his driving team made strong showings in several major races, including fifth place in Daytona in 1977 and second place in the Le Mans in 1979. "Racing is the best way I know to get away from all the rubbish of Hollywood," he told People magazine in 1979. Despite his love of race cars, Newman continued to make movies and continued to pile up Oscar nominations
Photo Credit: AP/CP, Paul Chiasson