Before passing in 2008, Paul Newman lived a life full of interesting chapters.
Newman has been in more films than you or I could name -The Young Philadelphians, Exodus, and The Hustler are just a few.
And though he participated in stories with intriguing scripts, his personal life was just as intriguing to some people.
The personal lives of celebs are always fun to learn about, so let’s take a small dive into the late Paul Newman and his marriage to Joanne Woodward.
Paul Newman married Joanne Woodward in 1958 after meeting at the production of a Broadway theater project.
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The actor was 28 then and in his prime. He was tall and attractive with the kind of jawline and hair women looked for.
Woodward, working hard on the production at the time, was perspiring left and right from her work.
In came Newman with his pristine clothing and looks – and barely any sign of sweating. It wasn’t a great first impression.
Woodward called it “disgusting.” Newman was nothing more than “just a pretty face” to her.
Newman had a wife and kids at this time, and Woodward knew this as well.
Still, there was some mutual acknowledgment of attractiveness there.
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Woodward was a gorgeous, young 22-year-old at this time, and Newman was enamored immediately.
She wore gloves and high heels while working and certainly looked good in them.
But as attractive as both were, Woodward would never think of getting between a man and his wife.
Despite her first impressions of him not being too great, Woodward would slowly fall for Newman too.
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If you saw The Long Hot Summer and thought the pair had great chemistry, then your hunch was right.
In fact, their chemistry was way too good.
People took notice, and that chemistry continued even when the cameras weren’t rolling.
I guess Woodward changed her mind a bit.
There was no denying now that the two had feelings for each other.
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When Newman’s wife agreed to a divorce in 1957, that sealed the deal. He then wed Woodward a year later in 1958.
That passionate love for each other didn’t falter one bit after marriage.
Woodward went on record saying that his being quite attractive was all well and good, but what she cared about was whether he could make her laugh.
But don’t think it was all smooth and guilt-free for Newman.
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While he was happy as can be with Woodward, divorcing his wife didn’t make exactly feel great.
It made him feel “guilty as hell,” and he continued that “He’d carry it for the rest of his life.”
Though, he was incredibly happy with Woodward.
They two earned the title “Hollywood’s golden couple” from some people, and you don’t get a label like that for nothing.
Their 50-year-long marriage spanning until Newman’s death in 2008, was a precious thing.
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When asked how they stayed together for 50 years, Newman and Woodward didn’t think it was too hard.
In an industry where scandals and vices are everywhere, people often act surprised to see such a wholesome and unfaltering marriage.
In Newman’s words, “People stay married because they want to, not because the doors are locked.”
His famous quote on this that he followed up with was, “I have steak at home. Why should I go out for hamburger?”
Woodward is now 92 and lives quietly while dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.
But at that age, she’s had a far more interesting life than any of us might.
Now, she and Newman are to be the subject of “The Last Movie Stars,” a documentary about their lives as actors and their marriage.
Click the video below to learn more about their classic Hollywood romance.
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