Recorded a television advertisement for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in June 2007.
Returned to live theater for first time in 35 years in June of 2002 in Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" at the Westport Country Playhouse near his home in Westport, CT. He directed and starred as the Stage Manager. Wife Joanne Woodward is the playhouse's Artistic Director.
Said in an interview that a film had never made any special impact on him until he saw On the Waterfront (1954).
Said that he burned his tuxedo on his 75th birthday because he is through with formality.
Says the sound he loves most is that of a V-8 engine.
Students at Princeton University have named 24 April Newman's Day. Students try to drink 24 beers over the 24 hours of the day. The tradition stems from a comment that Newman is alleged to have made; "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not." The event is not officially sponsored by the university, and Newman has commented that he would "like to bring an end to the tradition".
Stumped the U.S. for Eugene McCarthy during his unsuccessful bid for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1968. Newman made the cover of LIFE Magazine with a McCarthy pin on his jacket on the May 10th, 1968 issue.
Supported Al Franken's campaign for election as US Senator from Minnesota.
Supported anti-war Senator Eugene McCarthy's bid to win the Democratic nomination from incumbent President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, and actively campaigned for George McGovern in the 1972 presidential election.
Supported Sen. Ted Kennedy's campaign to win the Democratic presidential nomination in 1980.
The 4th nomination on Empire Magazine's "Gods Among Us" series along with Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, and Jack Nicholson.
The GI Bill got him through his first 3 months at Yale. To pay tuition for the rest of his time there, he sold Encyclopedia Britannica. He claims he was very good at it.
The role of Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) was originally awarded to James Dean, who died before filming began. Due to Dean's death, Newman was cast in the role. Dean also was signed to play Billy the Kid in The Left Handed Gun (1958), but that role was also inherited by Newman after Dean's death. Dean and Newman had shot their last screen tests for East of Eden (1955) together; the six-years-younger Dean got the part and Newman went on to star in The Silver Chalice (1954), a notorious turkey.
The TV episode "The Simpsons: Lost Verizon (#20.2)" (2008), was dedicated to his memory.
Turned down Donald Sutherland's role in A Time to Kill (1996) because he found the film's justification of murder distasteful.
Turned down the lead role in Sorcerer (1977), a part that eventually went to Roy Scheider.
Turned down the part taken by Robert Duvall in The Paper (1994).
Turned down the role of Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry (1971) because he thought the screenplay was too right-wing, and recommended Clint Eastwood for the part instead.
Turned down the role of Quint in Jaws (1975).
Was director Robert Wise's first pick for the lead in The Sand Pebbles (1966), eventually played by Steve McQueen, who won his only Oscar nomination for the role. Wise had earlier directed Newman in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) and Until They Sail (1957).