Paul Newman's private passions
HIS fame came from his iconic appearances in films such as Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Cool Hand Luke and The Color Of Money but Paul Newman was many things besides an actor: a producer and director, a championship racing driver, a political activist, a husband (twice over), a father and the co-founder of his own philanthropic food production company.
He and second wife Joanne Woodward lived in Connecticut, away from the melee of Hollywood, and were protective of their privacy so these previously unseen photographs, taken by close friend Leo Fuchs, offer an insight into the off-screen life of a film legend and a glimpse at the man behind those famously blue eyes.
Fuchs was a producer turned photographer who died earlier this year. His son Alexandre is also a photographer and discovered this cache of his father’s pictures in a vault.
As a matter of courtesy, Fuchs would show the actors his pictures of them, thus building up a bond of trust with Hollywood’s elite and so was given almost unprecedented access to his subjects, both on set and off.
His picture of a newly married Newman and Woodward show just how relaxed they are in his company.
Remembering Paul Newman is at the Proud Gallery, Camden, London NW1 until October 23 (www.proud.co.uk)