Paul Newman was one of my mom’s favorite actors, she would tell me all the time.

One day, before I was born, she had lunch with my father at a restaurant in Manhattan (she worked at the old Hotel Manhattan), and sat next to Paul Newman and his wife, actress Joanne Woodward. I think Newman might have even called them a ‘cute couple’ if I remember correctly.

I’ve always enjoyed his acting, as well as his line of foods, the proceeds of which all go to charity - over $220 million to date.

Paul Newman died of cancer today in his longtime home in Westport, Connecticut at the age of 83.