Getting to the Bottom of the Paul Newman Lung Cancer Reports

Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman and Martha Stewart at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp fundraiser

Although's rep has denied reports that the 83-year-old actor is terminally ill, yesterday it was reported that Newman has turned over the entire $120 million value of his ownership in Newman's Own - the company that makes salad dressing, spaghetti sauce and cookies - to charity, which has only added fuel to rumors that the Academy Award winner is dying of lung cancer.

However; it should be noted that Newman actually set up Newman's Own Foundation Inc., the recipient of the donations, two years ago - prior to any alleged lung cancer diagnosis - in honor of his 80th birthday to ensure his charities would continue benefiting from his generosity.



"He's been there a lot — he's even worked out in the waiting room, doing squat thrusts. Last time he was in there he had a long beard," an unnamed source told PageSix.com. "Joanne Woodward is there waiting for him and being very sweet with the assistants." The Web site previously reported that Newman was a no-show at his Hole in the Wall Gang charity party last Monday night. According to his rep, it was because "he's been having trouble with his back," PageSix.com reported.

"I'm very sorry I can't be part of this Westport Country Playhouse production, but I leave Of Mice and Men in Mark Lamos' very capable hands with the full support of my wife, Joanne Woodward, and Anne Keefe as Playhouse artistic directors."

Reports of Newman's illness started in March when PageSix reported that the Academy Award winner had been seeing an oncologist at New York’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for the past seven months.Then late last month Newman announced he would not be directing "Of Mice and Men"at the playhouse in his hometown of Westport, Conn. (*see note below), citing an unspecified illness *Although many media outlets are reporting that Newman was to direct "Our Town," that isn't the case. Newman actually starred in a production of "Our Town" at Westport six years ago, which may be the cause of the confusion.

Last week rumors of his illness were intensified when Martha Stewart posted photos of a gaunt-looking Newman on her blog from a benefit she hosted for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, an organization for which the actor sits as board of directors.

And now Fox News is reporting that a longtime friend and business partner of Newman's has confirmed his illness:



“He’s a fighter,” one of his close friends told Fox411 Tuesday morning. “And he’s going to keep fighting.”

So does he or does he not have lung cancer? All I can say is that if he does, it is obvious that he and his family are trying to keep this a private matter. Not surprising since he and wife Joanne Woodward have lived far from the Hollywood spotlight in Westport, Conn. for the last 50 years.

I think I can speak for all of us in saying we hope the rumors are just that.