Conflicting Reports on Paul Newman Cancer
Paul Newman is: (a) “doing nicely,” (b) battling “a form of cancer,” (c) both of the above or (d) just one of the above.
The health status of one of Hollywood’s greatest leading men was back in play today after a new series of conflicting reports.
Early today, Newman friend A.E. Hotchner was quoted as telling the Associated Press that Newman has a “form of cancer, and he’s dealing with it.”
Hotchner, who, with the Oscar-winning actor, launched the now ubiquitous Newman’s Own label of salad dressings, spaghetti sauces and other specialty foods, said Newman told him of the condition 18 months ago, the AP reported.
In a Reuters report, Hotchner was quoted as saying Newman made his cancer diagnosis “known to a lot of his friends.”
But within hours of the initial AP report, Hotchner said he was “misquoted” by the wire service, Access Hollywood reported.
“I saw him last week and he seemed fine,” Hotchner said of Newman, per the TV show. “I have no knowledge of any diagnosis or doctors…The AP misquoted me. I have no knowledge of Mr. Newman being treated for any illness.”
A phone message left at a number believed to be Hotchner’s was not immediately returned.
The AP is said to be standing by its story. The Reuters story was not referenced in the Access Hollywood report.
On Tuesday, as photos of Newman looking thinner than usual spread, along with reports that the 83-year-old star was terminally ill with lung cancer, Newman’s agent told News that the stories were “not true.” In a less-specific statement, Jeff Sanderson, a spokesman for Newman, said the star was “doing nicely.”
In the interview with the AP, Hotchner is not quoted as saying Newman’s cancer is either terminal or of the lung, although he is quoted as saying that the actor had an operation “certainly somewhere in the area of the lung” a few years ago.
The AP also quotes two other friends, the Tony Award-winning actor James Naughton and Michael Brockman, a partner in Newman’s race-car team, as saying the Hollywood icon is still engaged.
“As far as I can tell, he’s doing well,” Naughton told the wire service.
Brockman offered, “I think he looks great. I wish I looked that good.”
While Naughton talked of seeing Newman at a fundraiser this month, and Brockman spoke of Newman itching to get behind the wheel of one of their high-performance cars, other signs point to the star slowing down.
Last year, Newman said he was probably done with acting. He blamed not his health, per se, but his memory, saying he just couldn’t memorize lines like he used to.
Last month, he cited unspecified health issues in pulling out as director of a play in his Westport, Conn., hometown. That item, along with a photo of a bearded, thin Newman at the Indianapolis 500 over Memorial Day weekend, and one of him at a charity event that was posted on Martha Stewart’s blog last Friday, fueled speculation of a dire prognosis.
Newman, who last appeared on screen in the 2005 miniseries Empire Falls, for which he won an Emmy, has been deflecting, if not denying reports of his imminent demise for more than a year.
A 10-time Academy Award nominee, Newman claimed his Oscar for 1986’s The Color of Money.
Rep Shoots Down Paul Newman Cancer Reports
Paul Newman is not at death’s door, thank you very much.
The Hollywood icon’s agent, Toni Howard, tells News a slew of gossip reports claiming Newman was terminally ill with lung cancer are “not true.”
The reports began in earnest late last month, when Newman backed out as director of Our Town at the playhouse in his hometown of Westport, Conn., citing an unspecified illness.
Several tabloids pounced on the news as evidence of a dire condition. Subsequent photos of a seemingly gaunt-looking Newman at a recent charity event, posted last Friday on Martha Stewart’s blog, has added fuel to the speculation, which was even picked up by the Los Angeles Times’ gossip blog.
The 83-year-old Oscar winner announced last year that he was ending his acting career after 50 years.
Hollywood’s Leading PR Man Passes On
Here's one story PR men and women may have a hard time finding a positive spin for.
Legendary Hollywood press agent Warren Cowanthe namesake of the entertainment public relations behemoth Rogers & Cowan and rep for such stars as Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Frank Sinatra, among otherspassed away Wednesday night at the age of 87, his company confirmed today.
According to Variety, Cowan died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of heart failure. He was also battling cancer.
Over the course of his professional tenure, the so-called "father of Hollywood press agents" had a hand in helping the stars of Kirk Douglas, Shirley MacLaine, Roberto Benigni, Tony Curtis, Elton John and Danny Kaye all shine a little brighter.
A memorial is scheduled to take place Sunday.
Cruise bouncing back to Oprah’s couch
Will he bounce up and down again? Can you stand the suspense? You know that’s what’ll be on everyone’s mind when Tom Cruise returns to the Oprah show for a two-part, special tribute to the box office star. The last time Tom knocked knees with Oprah was the day of his not infamous couch jumping episode. He was so excited about his then new love, Katie Holmes — who is now Mrs. Tom — that the box office king leaped up onto the couch. His spontaneous show of love (craziness, borderline mania?) has become part of pop culture. It’s been imitated on comedy shows, replayed on YouTube, and generally will be forever associated with both Oprah and Cruise.
Chances are lightning will not strike twice. Even if he wants to jump again, it’s been done. So, the Oprah producers have come up with something they hope will be as memorable. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Risky Business, Cruise’s breakout comedy hit, two episodes of Oprah will be devoted to Tom. In part one, on May 2, Oprah will go to Telluride to interview Tom in his Colorado home. That hour is going to be all about Cruise’s family, his life, a look at his home, and a general happy happy joy joy time.
Part two will air on May 5 and is going to be filmed at the Harpo studios. That means furniture will be involved. Things to sit on, like couches. Friends (ooh, does that include Rosie O’Donnell?) and colleagues (think they’ll snag Paul Newman?) will wax poetic in filmed tributes to Mr. Cruise. Save the dates on your calendar. Set those DVRs now.