Well...

Goodbye Mr. Newman.

And, thanks.

. . . . . . . .

So long, Cool Hand Luke...

.

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Some of my favorite films of all time have one thing in common.... Mr. Paul Newman.

Somebody Up There Likes Me
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
The Hustler
Hombre
Cool Hand Luke
Exodus
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean
The Sting
Fort Apache The Bronx
Absence of Malice
The Verdict

Y'know...

I met Paul Newman twice in my life. And both times he was a gentleman and just a really nice guy. One time, years ago when I was a lot younger and I was waiting tables in an Italian restaurant across from Lincoln Center, he came in with his wife, Joanne Woodward, and a few friends. They were all really genuine and sweet. But, this place happened to have paper table cloths and crayons of the table. So, Mr. Newman spent the meal doodling. During coffee I asked him if he would do a little design for me to give to my girlfriend at the time... and he did. No questions asked. (It was in blue crayon and not very good. But, hell... it was by Paul Newman!)

The next time I was in the same room with him was a bunch of years later, no longer waiting tables. I had since begun living a really cool and Creative life, I was already "That Guitar Man from Central Park" and was writing plays as well. I was at The Actors Studio where a play that I had just written was being workshopped by a brilliant director named Leonard Foglia at the time.

I actually got to bring my father to this workshop as a guest. Studio director Estelle Parsons had invited Paul Newman. Before this particular reading about 50 of us were all asked to wait in the small lobby of the theater while the cast and staff were getting ready. Mr. Newman and Joanne were just content to hang out with the rest of us... waiting patiently. Until he finally smiled and laughed and raised one hand in the air and mockingly shouted, "Let's storm the door, DEFY AUTHORITY!"

He then just smiled and waited a few more minutes until we all filed into the theater.

My Dad was cool. But I could tell kinda quietly thrilled to be hangin' out with Paul Newman and his son... at The Actors Studio.

Just memories on a weekend when...

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Paul Newman has left the building.