Paul Newman, Newman’s Own ‘“As an actor, I’ve often been asked to describe the process of creating a character. Acting is a question of absorbing other people’s personalities and adding some of your own experience. If I had to describe philanthropy, I’d say the process is just the reverse. You start with your own experiences and from there you grow to embrace the needs of others.” … Paul Newman, 1999 Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the common good is an odd slogan for a company. “It started as a joke that got out of control,” admits actor Paul Newman. The “it” refers to his homespun business that started in his basement and ran amuck. Now known as Newman’s Own®, it has grown into a substantial and unusual enterprise, famous for its line of salad dressings, spaghetti sauces, salsa, microwave popcorn, steak sauce, fruit juices, “virgin” lemonade—and for the good it has done. Every after-tax dollar of profit goes directly to thousands of charitable causes. With a Hollywood career spanning more than sixty films, most people associate Academy Award winning Newman with the leading characters he has played such as Butch Cassidy or Cool Hand Luke. Many also relate Newman with race car driving; he won the Sports Car Club of America’s National Championship four times, and at the age of seventy, was the oldest driver to win a professionally sanctioned race—24 Hours of Daytona. He also wears the hats of director/writer/producer of stage and screen, and is married to his “co-star” of 45 years, Oscar-winning actress Joanne Woodward…” |
