Paul Newman Left His First Wife To Marry Joanne Woodward But Carried Guilt All His Life

Apr 14, 2022

Paul Newman was a famous American actor, film director and race car driver. With more than 50 years of experience in the entertainment industry, it’s not hard to see why Newman was so loved and respected by fans, critics and his fellow peers. He is best known for his roles in major films such as “The Hustler, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and for voicing the role of Doc Hudson in Disney-Pixar’s “Cars.”

The star was born on Jan. 26, 1925, in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and showed a strong interest in theater when he was just a child. Newman began performing early on, and his career only escalated as he grew older. Before he died on Sept. 26, 2008, Newman had been honored with plenty of awards and nominations.

He had also led a very beautiful yet, at times, controversial life. Newman was married twice and fathered six children. HIs second marriage received plenty of media buzz as he was wed to Oscar-winning actress Joanne Woodward. 

Woodward is an actress who is best known for her work in major motion films during the Golden Age of Hollywood. One of her best-recognized movies is “The Three Faces of Eve,” which earned her critical acclaim.

Newman and Woodward first met while working together during the 1950s and reconnected a few years later. Their romance seemed picturesque and the pair had a very loving relationship that lasted for five decades until Newman’s death. However, Newman’s first marriage and second marriage had a very clear overlap. Read on to find out more about Newman and Woodward’s love story.

The two actors Newman and Woodward met on the set of “Picnic” in the 1950s according to The History Channel, where they started off their burgeoning acting careers. Newman was married at the time and they went their separate ways to take on big roles in Hollywood movies.

They worked together again in 1958’s “The Long, Hot Summer” and by the time filming ended, Newman’s divorce from his first wife was finalized. He whisked Woodward away to Las Vegas where the two were married.

The next decades were filled with love and professional success. They had three daughters and took up residency as a happy family in Connecticut. Among it all, Newman went on to fill his biggest roles in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “The Sting.” His wife Woodward also won the best actress Oscar for her role in “The Three Faces of Eve.”

Newman also started an organic line of food products called “Newman’s Own” and continued with this and other philanthropic ventures until his death from lung cancer in 2008. In the same year, he and Woodward celebrated their golden anniversary of 50 years of marriage and happiness.

Newman is widely quoted as saying “I have steak at home; why go out for hamburger?" referring to his wife Joanne being the “steak” as per The New York Times. And on her side, the secret to a long-lasting marriage was laughter. She told TODAY that even though beauty might fade, a man that makes you laugh every day is something to hold onto.

Even though Newman and Woodward clearly had a beautiful relationship, it didn’t start in a picture-perfect way. According to Independent, the 2009 biography “Paul Newman: A Life,” written by film critic Shawn Levy, claimed that the late actor had a dark side and had an affair with an 18-year-old while married to Woodward. 

This wouldn’t be the first time the actor partook in illicit affairs, as his first marriage to Jackie Witte ended the same year he married Woodward. Newman and Witte were married from 1949 to 1958, but the actor had started dating Woodward in 1957 after knowing her for a couple of years. They tied the knot on Jan. 29, 1958.

Despite the allegations made in the biography, Woodward did not believe them. “Joanne is devastated and furious,” a source said at the time it was released. “She cannot understand why this cruel book is being written about Paul. Joanne and Paul had one of the longest, happiest marriages in Hollywood. She is terrified everyone is going to say it was all a sham and they lived a lie.”

Fortunately, more people defended Newman’s name and legacy, including Dr. Fin Breatnach. “I think he is a modern day saint,” he said. “I really think he was a quite extraordinary man. He was an extraordinarily caring individual who thought beyond his own needs and the needs of his family.”

Newman and Woodward welcomed three children of their own during their 50-year marriage, adding to the other three Newman had from his first marriage. They stayed together until Newman’s death in 2008, showing that no matter how their love started or what people thought of it, they stuck it out until the end.

What do you think about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s long-lasting relationship? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends.