Paul Newman ’49 H’61, Academy Award-winning actor and director, philanthropist and generous benefactor of Kenyon, will be honored by the U.S. Postal Service on a Forever stamp.
The stamp, to be released nationwide Sept. 18, features a photograph of Newman taken in 1980 by Steve Schapiro and is accompanied by text that reads “Actor/Philanthropist.”
Newman is the fourth Kenyon alumnus to be represented on a U.S. stamp, an honor previously given to former U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, Class of 1834, 19th U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, Class of 1842, and artist Coles Phillips, Class of 1905, who also had his art featured on a U.S. stamp. Former Prime Minister of Sweden Olof Palme ’48 appeared on both a Swedish stamp and a U.S.S.R. stamp in 1986, the year he was assassinated, and scientist and writer Carl Djerassi '43 was honored on an Austrian stamp in 2005.
“Paul Newman is the first post-World War II Kenyon graduate to be depicted on a stamp,” said College Historian Tom Stamp ’73, who attributes the honor to Newman’s “rare combination of being a noted actor and an entrepreneurial philanthropist.”
Newman, who studied drama and economics at Kenyon, remained closely connected to the College throughout his career, returning to Bolton Theater to direct the world debut of C.C. Pyle and the Bunion Derby in 1978. Kenyon also benefited from Newman’s financial generosity, exemplified in his $10 million leadership gift to the “We Are Kenyon” campaign in 2007 for financial aid to the neediest students.
During the course of his film career, Newman received 10 Academy Award nominations, including eight for best actor, and won an Oscar for his role in the 1986 film The Color of Money. He used his success as an actor, writer, producer and director to advance his philanthropic endeavors funding charitable causes, including SeriousFun Children’s Network. He also founded Newman’s Own, a food company that has grown into an international business of 200 products and raised more than $430 million for charities.
.