An Afternoon at Paul Newmans Apartment

A couple of years ago I was cast in a reading of a play.  It wasent a big production or anything, just a reading, but I'll never forget the experience.  The director was going to be Joanne Woodward.  I knew who she was, but I mainly knew who her husband was.  There were quite a few actors involved, and we were all excited about meeting her, working with her, and praying for the chance that Mr. Newman may come check us out.

Ms. Woodward told us we would be having a couple of rehearsals.  The first one was at a studio somewhere, the second one, she said would be held at their 5th avenue apartment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep.

This is once in a lifetime opportunity stuff man, and I knew it.  When I got to their building that day and told the doorman who I was there to see, Im sure he was like "yea sure". But he called up and was told to send me to their apartment.  Their floor I mean. I took a private elevator that opened up right into their apartment, it was the whole top floor. There was a terrace overlooking central park, that was pretty much the whole length of the rooftop. I coudnt believe where I was.  Large paintings, wood paneling on the walls, big plush couches.  A housekeeper greeted me and walked me to where the other actors had gathered. Ms. Woodward welcomed me and offered some fig newtons while we waited for others. 

Before we began she calmy said to us, and I'll never forget this either," Paul may come through but dont mind him." All of us young actors just glanced at each other thinking the exact same thing," DID SHE JUST SAY PAUL NEWMAN MAY WALK THROUGH, DONT MIND HIM?" Was she crazy?! I was never even a huge Paul Newman fan, but the man was/is an icon, and he was an actors actor. Paul Newman was the real deal onstage and off. His work, his charisma, his moviestar glamour, his devotion to his wife and kids, his shunning of the Hollywood lifestyle... he wasent a tabloid actor, he was a real actor and a stand up man.   We sat frozen on a couch, waiting to begin. Ms. Woodward did say to us though that "Paul liked to nap on the very couch we were frozen to. I'm sure each of us sniffed that freaking couch when noone was looking. lol

That was as close as I got though.  He never came passing through that day.  While we were rehearsing all I could think was, wow right now Paul Newman is somewhere in New York doing something, and there are people who are getting a chance to see him live and in person, just not us.

Before we left that day I stopped to use the bathroom.  There were stunning home photos of the two of them when they were younger, on movie sets, with other famous people. But the coolest thing I saw was this letter that they had blown up and framed.  It was addressed to Mr. Newman.  It was from a man who was writing to thank him for the delicious Newmans Own salad dressing that he and his wife had enjoyed the night before.  The writer went on to say, "Mr. Newman my wife tells me that you are also an actor". He asked if he had any movies on video. And said that if his acting was anywhere near as good as his salad dressing, he was sure that he must be a very fine actor". Priceless.

I'll never forget that experience.

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