The End of An Era: Godspeed, Cool Hand Luke

Paul Newman died overnight at the ripe old age of 83.
When it comes to Hollywood stars, they just didn’t get better than Paul Newman. The best of ’em, he never let it go to his head. Probably more famous for his salad dressing and tomato sauce, the guy was a different kind of idol.
In a vapid, pointless society like Hollywood, where it seems weight and fashion matter more than anything, Newman never subscribed to being ordinary. He had a Porsche 356 engine put into his VW Bug, for god’s sake. He wore a beer bottle opener as a necklace.
He was a bad boy who wasn’t bad. He gave $150 million to charity. He helped kids. But he celebrated antihero and loser roles in his movies, rather than pursuing the roles of perfect goodlooking people (like Tom Cruise often does, for instance). He embraced that side of him and we loved him for it.
If there’s a Hollywood guy I wish could be emulated more often– from the blue eyes and the incredible ass to the heart of gold and the mischievous smile– it’s Paul Newman.
Later, Paul. It’s been real.

2 thoughts on “The End of An Era: Godspeed, Cool Hand Luke

  1. John Hays

    Always loved his movies, great actor. I was once told by someone that I reminded them of him because of my blue eyes. I’ve got a lot of work to do to get in the kind of shape he’s in in that photo, though! đŸ˜‰

  2. Creepy

    Last night at dinner Dad, who is sick, was talking about how he wants his baseball glove put in his coffin with him. I brought up all the booze and cigarettes people stuck in Frank Sinatra’s coffin before he was put in the ground. Mom silence us all by saying, “If there was room they could put me in Paul Newman’s coffin.”

Comments are closed.