Highlights
- Paul Newman, beloved actor and entertainer, had six children with his two wives.
- His children have largely disappeared from the public eye since his passing in 2008.
- While some of Newman’s children pursued careers in entertainment, others have focused on philanthropy and charitable causes.
Paul Newman was not only one of the most beloved actors of his generation, but one of the most recognized entertainers of the 20th century. With a nearly six-decade career, Newman was among Hollywood’s greatest leading men.
He was not only an accomplished actor and philanthropist, but also a devoted father and family man. Since Newman’s passing, a majority of his children have vanished from the spotlight.
Who Are Paul Newman’s Children And What Have They Been Up To Since His Passing?
According to Hollywood Life, between 1950 and 1965, Paul Newman fathered six children with his two wives respectively, Jackie Witte (married in 1949 and divorced in 1958), and Joanne Woodward (married in 1958 until his passing in 2008).
With Jackie Witte, Newman welcomed:
- Scott Newman in 1950
- Stephanie Newman in 1951 or 1954 (based on various sources)
- Susan Kendall Newman in 1953.
He had three more daughters with Joanne Woodward:
- Nell Newman in 1959
- Melissa Newman in 1961
- Claire Newman in 1965
Newman’s eldest child and only son, Scott Newman, passed away prematurely in 1978 after an accidental substance overdose. The young Newman, who entered the entertainment industry similar to his father, pursued acting and singing before he passed away. He was featured in The Great Waldo Pepper and Breakheart Pass, among other projects.
After he passed, his father felt significant guilt about his death and wished he had been there more for his son. In his son’s memory, Paul Newman established The Scott Newman Center, which aimed to help young individuals with their substance abuse challenges.
Stephaine Newman, one of Newman’s daughters, has a lived a very private life. Her date of birth is even in question. According to Hollywood Life, she was born in 1951, but Grunge has stated that she was born in 1954, based on information from Turner Classic Movies.
Stephaine Newman never desired to enter the entertainment business and there is not much public knowledge about her. While she was seen with her parents as a child, she has vanished from the public eye as an adult. Since her father’s passing, she has remained out of the spotlight and most likely takes comfort in her anonymity.
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Susan Kendall Newman has truly followed in her father’s footsteps. Not only has she acted in and produced projects, but she has also dedicated a large portion of her life to charitable and philanthropic causes. One of her first acting roles was an appearance in Slap Shot, in which her father starred.
While Susan Kendall Newman enjoyed a successful career as a producer, she has prioritized her philanthropic roles. Causes that Newman has especially been interested in are substance abuse assistance and child welfare, according to Hollywood Life.
Not only has she led multiple organizations and helped oversee The Scott Newman Center, but she has traveled across the globe as an in-demand speaker. As of November 2023, Newman continues to pursue her philanthropic work.
Nell Newman/Potts, Paul Newman’s third daughter, also entered the entertainment business at a young age. She portrayed a young version of Rachel in her father’s directorial debut, Rachel, Rachel, in 1968. Interestingly, the film starred her mother in the title role. She later co-starred with her mother in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds in 1972, which her father also directed.
While she did not have a long career in entertainment, she did have a partnership with her father’s Newman’s Own company. She helped start and oversaw Newman’s Own Organics, a separate entity that licensed her father’s “name and image”, according to Hollywood Life. She substantially left the role in 2014, after her license expired. Once her father passed, Newman’s Own and Nell Newman/Potts had business challenges, and she decided to give her company to Newman’s Own so that her employees would not be terminated.
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Melissa Newman, like her father, mother, and some of her siblings, attempted to have a career in entertainment. She made appearances on TV shows such as a Perry Mason reboot and was featured in films like Mr. & Mrs. Bridge, which starred her parents. She additionally had a role in her mother’s TV movie, See How She Runs. Newman later left the entertainment business and focused on raising a family with her husband. They share two sons.
Newman got her father’s philanthropic spirit and has dedicated a considerable amount of her time to volunteering, particularly at a women’s prison. She authored “Head Over Heals”, which is an account of her parents’ romance and marriage. Newman’s popularized quote “Why go out for a hamburger when you have steak at home?”, which was in reference to his wife, Joanne Woodward, supposedly angered her however.
Claire Newman, Paul Newman’s youngest child, pursued a behind-the-scenes career in the entertainment industry. Projects she has been involved in include Mad Men, Big Little Lies, and The Big C. Besides her work, not much is known about Claire Newman besides her passion for philanthropy. In a Vanity Fair interview, she spoke candidly about her parents’ focus on giving back:
“From a very young age, our parents taught us that being a good citizen in your community and giving back should be a priority if you were as lucky as we were. I am very proud to be a part of his legacy.”
Claire Newman eventually took a significant role in her father’s summer camps for children with medical challenges. Newman knew she wanted to serve others as her life’s work, but it was her father’s offer to join Newman’s Own’s summer camps that gave her a great purpose.
Did Paul Newman’s Children Inherit His Fortune After His Passing?
While Paul Newman was hesitant to leave inheritances for his children, Claire Newman and her siblings most likely received a portion of their father’s estate after he passed away.
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According to his daughter, Susan, Newman felt leaving substantial amounts of money “eroded your amibition.” He later agreed to provide funds for his children to start and/or contribute to charitable causes.
After Newman’s passing, complex financial challenges between Newman’s Own and Paul Newman’s children occurred that resulted in legal petitions regarding Newman’s will.
Paul Newman has left a lasting legacy, beyond his entertainment career, that continues with his children today. While some of his children have decided to avoid the spotlight, they have remained dedicated to preserving Newman’s philanthropic spirit.
