The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a famous Hollywood landmark where thousands of actors, directors and musicians have received their stars.
But who was the first person to be honoured on this historic walkway? Yes, you guessed it. According to History, it was Joan Woodward who received her star during the official groundbreaking ceremony on 9 February 1960.
Paul Newman and Joan Woodward decided to raise their family in Connecticut, away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, their 55-year-old daughter Clea spoke about her mother:
‘My mother was way ahead of her time,’ she says. “She was involved in the women’s rights movement before it became mainstream, and she was a very caring mother; when I was little, she breastfed me right on the set. She would stop the cameras in the middle of a scene and say, ‘Excuse me, I have to feed my baby.
Paul had three children from his first marriage: a son, Scott (born in 1950), and daughters Susan (born in 1953) and Stephanie Kendall (born in 1954).
In 1975, the family suffered a tragic loss: Scott died of a drug overdose after a motorcycle accident.
Five years later, Paul founded the Scott Newman Centre. It educates children about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.
‘Nothing can take away my guilt over Scott. It will be with me for the rest of my life,’ Paul Newman said after his son’s death, according to The Times.
Joan Woodward — family
Joan gave birth to three daughters: Eleanor Theresa (born in 1959), Melissa Stewart (born in 1961) and Claire Olivia (born in 1965).
As a child, Melissa appeared in several television series, as well as in the film Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (1990), which also starred her parents.
Joanne and Paul continued to live a wonderful life together in Connecticut.
People admired their loving relationship, and actor Liev Schreiber shared a beautiful story about how they were still deeply in love even after 40 years of marriage.
It happened while working on the film Twilight (1998), when Joanne came to the set.
‘He put his arm around my shoulders and said, “Look at her bum.” It seemed like the perfect relationship to me. I love that a man who is almost 80 still loves his wife’s bum,’ Schreiber said in an interview with Elle.
Despite their age, Paul and Joanne never slowed down. From 2001 to 2005, she was the artistic director of the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut, and she also starred alongside her husband in the television series Empire Falls.
Paul passed away
However, in 2008, after 50 years of marriage, this love story came to an end.
Paul Newman passed away in 2008 after battling cancer at the age of 83. The legendary actor who played Butch Cassidy was honoured and revered throughout the film industry.
After the death of her beloved husband, Newman’s estate went to Joan and various charities.
Joan and Paul were one of Hollywood’s true golden couples, as such a long and happy marriage is a rarity in show business.
The couple maintained their love for each other with playfulness and became known for their involvement in politics and charity, balancing their work and family life.
Daughter speaks out
In addition, the couple created the famous Newman’s Own salad dressing, all profits from which go to charity.
‘They loved each other like newlyweds,’ Bob Forrester, a friend of the family, told People magazine. ‘When I flew with him around the world, as soon as the plane landed, Paul would call Joan and always say, “I love you,” even after 50 years of marriage. She was everything to him. They were soul mates.’
After the death of her beloved husband, Newman’s estate was bequeathed to Joan and various charities.
According to Joan, the secret to their marriage’s success was quite simple.
‘We could talk to each other, we could say anything to each other without fear of ridicule or rejection. There was trust,’ she said, according to Honey Nine.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, daughter Clea talks about her mother Joanna, now 92, and how similar they are.
‘I wish I had my mother’s skin,’ she said. ‘I have more wrinkles than she does, and she’s 86! Her skin is annoying, she’s so beautiful. But she used sunscreen before it even existed. I’ve never seen her not wear a hat in the sun.’
Three years ago, it was announced that Ethan Hawke would be making a documentary about the lives and careers of Joanne and Paul. According to Deadline, the family has given their consent.
In his statement, Hawke promised ‘a rare and exclusive look at both actors’ careers and their complex 50-year relationship, which ultimately overcame incredible obstacles.’
Joan Woodward in 2023
As of 2023, Joan Woodward has retired from acting. The 92-year-old actress voiced Doris in the 2013 film Lucky Tam, but has not appeared in any films since then.
The iconic actress has not appeared in public since 2013, and there have been reports in the media that she is battling serious health issues.
According to Closer magazine, Woodward is battling Alzheimer’s disease. USA Today reports that Joanne was diagnosed in 2007, just days before Paul Newman was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Joanne was back in the spotlight in 2022 with the premiere of Ethan Hawke’s six-part documentary series about Woodward and Newman.
Hopefully, Joanne was able to enjoy it.
‘That’s why the family wanted me to do it now,’ Hawke said in 2020, continuing:
‘They wanted it to come out while she was still alive and could see it, to support her.’
According to Closer, Joanne Woodward still lives in the house in Westport, Connecticut, where her husband died in 2008 at the age of 83.
Joanna Woodward and Claire Newman attend the ‘Paul Newman’s Dream’ celebration in support of the Paul Newman Foundation’s Hole in the Wall Camps at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Centre, on 2 April 2012 in New York City. (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)
The love story of Joanna Woodward and Paul Newman is certainly a special one. We are so happy that they were married for over 50 years. A true Hollywood golden couple that the world may never see again.
Share their story with your friends and family.