It focused on an internationally famous Hollywood movie star, who was briefly visiting Scotland...possibly for the first time? The individual in question, was Paul Newman, who along with his actress wife Joanne Woodward, was spending part of their vacation taking in the Scottish sights. When he was tentatively approached by two young female fans asking for his autograph, he brusquely and bluntly told them to go away! The girls were a bit disappointed to say the least, but by this time, Mr Newman’s strong reluctance for putting pen to paper for the delight of his millions of fans, was beginning to be well acknowledged and recognized.

All that aside (as we celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday) Paul Newman remains one of the true “Golden Boys” of Hollywood history. Whether as actor, movie star, political activist, racing driver, humanitarian, or creator of spaghetti sauce, marinades and salad dressings, he certainly left his mark; not forgetting that he possessed the most famous blue eyes this side of Frank Sinatra!

Paul Newman first appeared during the early 1950s, gradually emerging from the shadows of those other young method actors who would shape the very notions of screen acting from that era – Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and James Dean.

Newman was slightly different, in the sense that his striking good looks automatically placed him into the category of “Pin-Up Matinee Idol” alongside the likes of Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson and Robert Wagner. Newman saw things differently, he was an intense, serious and committed method actor, who strove to dismiss any idea of surface superficiality by bringing a sense of authentic truth to his characterizations. He obviously wanted to go beyond his assumed image as a mere fan magazine favourite. Ironically, it was the early death of James Dean, that left the door open for Newman to replace him in two films that would help elevate him up the ladder. Namely: Somebody Up There Likes Me and The Left-Handed Gun.

It was the arrival of the 1960s that brought Paul Newman truly into his own. With a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films that would cement his status as one of the most popular film actors in the world.

You only needed to view some of them: The Hustler, Hud, Harper, Hombre (it was beginning to be observed that Mr Newman preferred films with the letter H in the title!) and perhaps best of all - Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid - to see how much his films were taking root in the public’s affections. Not forgetting his charismatic on-screen double act with Robert Redford, that not only embraced the Old West, but gangland Chicago with The Sting.

In many ways, Newman was among the first to project that essence of the cool, alienated loner/outsider, that also later fell upon the shoulders of contemporaries Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood.

You could also add that Newman aged well, with his appeal and popularity rarely waning; whilst he exhibited a wise, seasoned maturity with the likes of Fort Apache-The Bronx, Absence of Malice, The Verdict, The Color of Money and The Road to Perdition.

However, despite his seemingly gilded existence, some raindrops fell on his head, due to personal tragedy and genuine feelings of insecurity. The death of his only son Scott through drugs haunted him deeply, and his struggles with alcohol proved to be a battle that was always ongoing.

Yet, out of adversity and loss, something great came to the fore, when Newman (almost as a joke) began to sell his salad dressings to raise money for charity. This soon evolved into a multi-million-dollar industry, also including popcorn, ginger beer etc. In fact, Newman began to humorously observe that his salad dressings were out grossing his films!

As an affectionate nod to one of his past screen triumphs as Butch Cassidy, he established and set up a camp for terminally and seriously ill children called – The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. His credentials as a major philanthropist were now fully established, adding another layer to his status as more than just a movie star.

He passed away in 2008, but his legacy continues to reverberate, as a latter day generation of movie actors including Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and George Clooney held him in high esteem, not only for his many screen credits, but his overall humanity in attempting to make young lives better.

Twenty-five years ago, I remember writing to the American Film Institute to request if they would consider giving Paul Newman their annual prestigious Life Achievement Award. I did receive a reply from the AFI, confirming that Newman was a possibility...but for whatever reason, it never happened.

Despite that rejection, he remains one of the all-time great Hollywood movie stars...a man who rarely failed to communicate with the public. ■

Info: Over The Wall is a member of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, visit www.otw.org.uk.