OT: Paul Newman dead at 83.

has had one brush with fame. My grandfather was a young veterinarian in Amarillo, TX when the movie crew from the movie “Hud” asked him to care for the large number of cattle involved in production.

My grandfather (who passed away this past May) told me at least 1,000 times the story of talking with Paul Newman when they came up with the line from the movie where some one looks at a dead cow and says, “Leave em be and let the buzzards have ’em.”

Hud is a really bad movie that brings really good memories.

God bless Paul Newman.

That, by Hollywood standards, is extremely rare. By all accounts it was a happy and loving one.

He may be the last of the truly great actors and stars. The last generation just can’t measure up.

When I was a waitress at a very fancy restaurant in downtown Chicago when I was in my 20s I had the pleasure of waiting on him and his wife. They couldn’t be nicer and man he was still so handsome. They gave me a 50 dollar tip because I had given them such great service. And autographed a napkin on top of it for my mother.

Also had a chance to watch him and his wife. They were so much like my grandparents still so much in love after all those years.

He seemed like a great guy and he was a great actor

and philanthropy through his Newman’s Own salad dressing..

“Sometimes nothin’ can be a real cool hand.”

Much respect, and thanks.

For all of Paul Newman’s great movies the most underrated performance he ever gave was as Reggie Dunlap in Slapshot. It is a brilliantly funny movie that I was distressed to learn Newman later regretted playing a part in. Oh well.

I met Newman in 1985 at the Milwaukee County Speedway. My friend’s father was part-owner of an Indy car and got us passes to sit in the infield to watch the Indy race taking place. Newman was partnered with Carl Haas of Lincolnshire and were the owners behind Mario Andretti and his son Michael. Newman was passionate about racing and from what I understand was very good behind the wheel himself.