Paul Newman rumored to be dying of lung cancer

Unfortunately reports are surfacing that acting legend Paul Newman is said to be dying of lung cancer. We reported in late March 2008 that Newman was said to have been diagnosed with a terminal type of cancer, according to the NY Post. The paper then reported, the 83-year-old Newman Newman has been seeing a top cancer expert for seven months accompanied by his wife Joanne Woodward.

The new reports say Newman a former chain-smoker is currently receiving outpatient treatment York’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and is said to be under the care of a leading oncologist in New York.Newman and his family have declined to comment.

The 83-year old veteran of more than 50 films, including classics such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Hustler and Cool Hand Luke, has been canceling engagements, in the past six weeks. He has dropped plans to direct Steinbeck’s Of Mice And Men on stage at the Westport Country Playhouse near his home in Connecticut. Newman also scrubbed an appearance at a fund-raising event for the Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, a charity he co-founded in 1988 to provide outdoor fun for children with life-threatening illnesses, and canceled a “star guest” appearance on the The Late Show With David Letterman.

Paul is the founder of “Newman’s Own”, which offers various food products, like spaghetti sauce and salad dressing. The company donates all its earning to charity and with earnings reaching over $100 million since it’s creation.

We really hope these rumors are not true and our best thoughts go out to the Newman family.

Update: Martha Stewart posted this photo (below) of a very frail-looking Paul Newman on her blog, from an event a week ago. Well at least it shows Paul hasn’t scrapped all appearances!

Update 2: Previously, a rep for Newman said reports that he was fighting terminal lung cancer were “not true”. Well, it seems like somebody must have spoken out of turn.

Paul released a statement late Tuesday evening, which was more cryptic and did not deny the health reports.

Says the actor’s publicist: “Newman says he’s doing nicely. This is what I got from him. He says he’s doing nicely, and this is the statement I wanted to share with you, and that’s what I have. I spoke to his office. … this is the statement that came directly from him.”