Sadly, Joanne Woodward's health is slipping quickly due to the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s Disease. Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman were inseparable from 1958 until 2008, when Newman passed away at the age of 83 from cancer. They met in 1958, according to Life & Times of Hollywood, when they co-starred in the classic film "The Long, Hot Summer."
Today, it’s reported that 88-year-old Woodward has all memories of Paul from her fight with Alzheimer's Disease. Newman left his billions to his wife and charities but gave just $5 million to each of his children. A source close to the family was quoted as saying her "health is rapidly deteriorating, and only once in a while states that she used to be married to someone handsome."
Shortly after Newman passed in 2008, Woodward started to first exhibit signs of Alzheimer's. The couple’s daughters began noticing that their mother was frequently disoriented. The disease grew worse, and she now requires 24-7 care. She rarely speaks and seldom recognizes her children or grandchildren.
Early in the disease, Woodward's daughters were having their mother treated during a drug trial at Yale University's Adler Geriatric Assessment Center. But, now the family feels that at this point the disease has reached the point of no return and that Joanne will soon be reaching her end.This is not the only sad news for the Newman/Woodward children.
Woodward’s illness has precipitated a family battle other over Newman's billion-dollar estate. Just before his death, he gave each of his five daughters, three with Woodward and two from his first marriage, $5 million each for their inheritance. Newman believed that his children were all successful and didn’t need the family money. The majority of his estate was left to Joanne and various charities.
Newman's children are apparently not happy with their father's decision. They’re concerned about whether Joanne included them in her will. They think she could leave them nothing and donate the billion-dollar estate to charity. There’s no word on what Woodward decided to do with the estate, but some speculate that the five Newman children are fighting over the cash and could contest their mom’s will after her death...
So sad. The pictures that you included are wonderful, though. Thank you for the update.
ReplyDeleteHow sad. I don't know whether Joanne's health is the sadder news, or the children fighting for her money.
ReplyDeleteyup. People change....and the PROMISE of money...oh boy! I've heard of lifelong friendships get tossed out of the window....families 'torn apart'. In the case of Paul and Joann, I don't think that anyone was critical of their children as they successfully maneuvered into adulthood. They're middle-aged now. I hope that NONE of this is hitting her ears...as she herself has more than her own set of problems. Just sad.
Deletehow can a person not be satisfied with a 5-million dollar inheritance? such greedy ingrates
DeleteI totally agree with Sue . Most of it should go to the children and then they can decide what to do with it
DeleteI think if I was an heir and it’s worth billions I would probably contest it also. If their relationships were loving it’s what I would want for my children. Some to charities and the bulk to family.
ReplyDeleteIt is a well known fact that people who inherit a large amount of money .... most just not responsible. Joann and Paul made the money, invested, etc. Their wills should not be fighting over what is not really theirs.
DeleteAlzheimer's is a sad and devastating disease. But Joanne should be able to do what she wants with her and Paul's money. I don't think the children should be so greedy about money that they did not work for and was never theres to begin with.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that both Paul and Joann went throug all options with their lawyers/management...and that whatever legal maneuvers happening now, are so much more about breaking the original signed legal wills/documents.
DeleteYour facts are wrong. Newman and Woodward met when she was 22 and he was 28 and making his debut in the Broadway play "Picnic." He was married and divorced subsequently to marry Woodward.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable! Their father left them 5 Million! Get over it!! She Joanne leaves all the money to charity-WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Money is the root to many evils and it unleases the GREED and UGLINESS in people!!!!
ReplyDeleteOften misquoted... it’s NOT “money is the root of all evil.”... the ACTUAL quote is: “the LOVE of money is the root of all evil!”
DeleteBig difference.
Well said. You’re exactly correct.
DeleteI miss seeing both legends in the movies.
ReplyDeleteReally sad about the money thing. If Paul Newman wanted the will a certain way they should leave it alone. Money is not everything. If they had to deal with what their mom is going through with would be nice.
ReplyDeleteWe all miss Paul & Joann simply the best. As for the inheritance no ones business except for the family. Always our best!
ReplyDeleteA Lovely couple! So sad we have to grow old and die!!
ReplyDeleteyes it is....
DeleteThat is why if one is a Christian one can look forward to heaven where there is no time, everyone is in their prime, and there is no sickness or decay. Frank Sinatra's tombstone reads, "The Best is Yet to Come."
DeleteShe is so beautiful What a shame she is being robbed of past memories
ReplyDeleteI met both of them by chance during intermission of a play in NYC Paul asked me for a light...I gave him my lighter...told Joanne how I loved her in Man in the Moon Marigolds. They were such nice down to earth people.
DeleteThis is such awful news. Poor lady. She and Paul are great favourites of mine and I'm so sorry to hear she has been struck down by this horrific disease. I lost my gran to this horror,and my heart goes out to her family and friends for having to see her end up like that.
ReplyDeleteAll the wrong information. P's daughter created the recipe for many Newman products. Her name was on the packaging. While he was dying, though, another businesspartner encouraged him to cut her out of the business. After confusing altercations, he followed the advice of his partner. Today, she no longer has part of the Newman products. This is extremely sad. Apparently, mental health experts say that changing a will is common with dying patients. They can be easily swayed by others.
ReplyDeleteThey actually met in 1953 in New York City.
ReplyDeleteTwo wonderful human beings.
ReplyDeleteI am so sick and tired of relatives wanting an
Deleteinheiritance from relatives. It is the relative's business who or where they leave they money to. They earned it not the relatives. 5 million dollars should be more than enough and the children should be grateful
Greed pure and simple and a feeling of entitlement. Let the greedy relatives earn their own money in their
own lifetimes. The Woodwards were very charitable
so whomever the money goes to will need it more than
children of the rich and famous.
His daughter Nell started the
ReplyDeleteOrganic food. Paul loved it. So, don't judge, stop listening to lies from stupid gossip. Alzheimer's is a horrible disease as is dementia.
As other posters suggested money should go to family not only children there are grandchildren to consider too. Let them decide about charity donations, I have read that Paul encouraged daughters to give back so I am sure they would continue that behavior.
ReplyDeleteCharities need his money more than they do. Dedicate the bulk to needed charities, particularly their mother's illness and consider it the best thing they could do for their mother.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate enough to meet them booth working as a young tour guide and bellboy at Riverside's Mission Inn hotel. Paul came for the races. He was pretty quiet and went directly to his room. (I understood) While she was so gracious and interested. Asking me about the history and detail of the place. We sat and talked and walked around enthused and delighted. I was nobody and she was very kind. I'll always remember them both very fondly. ~
ReplyDeleteA billion dollars? I would be contesting that will too!
ReplyDeleteThere was an interview which discussed JoAnne's influence over Paul in encouraging him to leave any money at all to his children. Evidently he wasnt too interested in leaving them anything - she was said to persuade him to not cut them out. She seems like one who would want her daughters and grandchildren to be provided for.
ReplyDeleteI met her at Canyon Ranch in Arizona. She took a tap class with us and was really friendly
ReplyDelete