NEWS ALERT: JOANNE WOODWARD IN HOSPICE CARE

Joanne Woodward's closest friends fear her 16-year battle with Alzheimer's is coming to an end, we have learned.

The 93-year-old screen legend, also widely known for being the widow of Paul Newman, is fortunately in good hands during this fragile time for the family.

One pal in her inner circle revealed Woodward is now receiving at-home hospice care and has been surrounded by the three daughters she shared with the actor, as well as Paul's girls shared with his first wife.

"At this point, the best that can be done for Joanne is to keep her comfortable while waiting for the inevitable," said a pal. "It's a tribute to her courage and determination that she has lived with this debilitating disease as long as she has."

The Three Faces of Eve star was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2007. Woodward and Newman had been together 50 years when he died in 2008 from lung cancer. He was 83.

In the future, Woodward's estimated $50 million estate is set to be divided between her daughters for their favorite charitable causes....

THE LAST DAYS OF JOANNE WOODWARD

In a month Joanne Woodward will turn 93, but sadly she is facing her final days. The Alzheimer’s-stricken actress is now deprived of her memories of late husband Paul Newman! “Joanne has been suffering from severe Alzheimer’s and dementia for some time now,” confided a source, “and can no longer remember details of her life with Paul.” A family insider added: “Joanne’s health has deteriorated rapidly. She will occasionally say she used to be married to someone handsome, but that’s it. She doesn’t even re- member the love of her life!” The brilliant actress — who won an Oscar for 1957’s “The Three Faces of Eve” hasn’t gone before the cameras since 2005. And while she managed a public appearance in 2016, insiders report that Joanne first began showing signs of dementia after her husband succumbed to cancer in 2008.

“Their girls saw their mom becoming slightly disoriented,” said the source, “but they chalked it up to her depression after Paul’s death.” But now the disease has progressed to such an extent that Joanne needs round-the-clock care. “She barely speaks anymore, and hardly ever recognizes her own daughters or grandchildren,” said the insider. “It’s heartbreaking to see her this way.”

A friend who lived near the actress in Westport, Conn., said shortly after Paul’s death that “Joanne sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and cries out to Paul.” Now things have progressed to the point where Joanne doesn’t even remember Paul. Fortunately, insiders report that Paul and Joanne’s daughters — Nell, Melissa and Clea — are have stayed close to their mother in her time of need.

Joanne and Paul first met in 1953, when the actor, then 28, was making his Broadway debut in “Picnic.” 22-year-old Joanne was an understudy in the play. She dismissed Paul at the time as “just a pretty face,” but he was knocked out by the gorgeous blonde from Georgia! “She was modern and independent,” Paul said, “whereas I was shy and a bit conservative. It took me a long time to persuade her that I wasn’t as dull as I looked.”

They were reunited in Hollywood four years later on the set of “The Long, Hot Summer,” and their friendship began to blossom into something more — putting an end to Paul’s marriage to Jacqueline Witte. “Paul was torn between his loyalty to his children and honesty with his feelings for Joanne,” recalls a pal. But Paul and Joanne’s chemistry was undeniable — and they launched an affair while filming the drama.

Paul and Joanne wed in Las Vegas on Jan. 29, 1958, and they welcomed Nell, their first child together, the following year. Their enduring marriage was one of the longest and strongest in Hollywood. Joanne’s youngest daughter, Clea, takes pride in remembering that her strong-willed mother was always her husband’s equal: “They really supported one another in whatever the other wanted to do — but, I mean, she could push back!”

THE CHILDREN OF PAUL NEWMAN

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward had a love affair that lasted for decades. They were married on January 29, 1958 and stayed married until Newman's death on September 26, 2008 at the age of 83. Newman was married before, when he married Joanne he blended this families together. Here is a brief look at the children of Paul Newman...

SCOTT NEWMAN

Scott is Paul’s eldest son, who was born in 1950. Like his dad, Scott was an actor. According to IMDb, he made his debut in 1974’s The Towering Inferno, and also had credits in Marcus Welby, M.D., Harry O, S.W.A.T and Fraternity Row. Tragically, Scott died at the age of 28 from an accidental overdose in a hotel room in Los Angeles in November 1978. At the time, Paul was heartbroken and wished he could’ve been there for Scott. “Paul felt he should have done more,” a friend reportedly said in February of 2021.

STEPHANIE NEWMAN

Paul’s second child and first daughter, Stephanie, arrived in 1951. During her childhood, Stephanie made a few appearances alongside her father, but since she’s grown up, she’s stayed out of the spotlight. Per Vanity Fair, Stephanie lives a quiet life away from Hollywood, so there isn’t too much information known about her.

SUSAN KENDALL NEWMAN

Paul welcomed his third child in 1953. Unlike Stephanie, Susan pursued a career in Hollywood, having acted in 1977’s Slap Shot, 1978’s I Wanna Hold Your Hand and 1978’s A Wedding. In addition to her career in showbiz, Susan is very dedicated to her philanthropic efforts. According to IMDb, she served as the Executive Director of several nonprofit organizations specializing in alcohol and drug abuse prevention, as well as child welfare. Nowadays, Susan lives in California, Vanity Fair reported.

NELL NEWMAN

Nell is the eldest of Paul and Joanne’s kids together. She was born in 1959. Nell focused on acting as a young girl as she appeared in Rachel, Rachel in 1968 and The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds in 1972, but as she grew up, she became an entrepreneur. Most notably, she founded the organic food and pet food production company called Newman’s Own Organics.

 
MELISSA "LISSY" NEWMAN

Paul and Joanne’s daughter Lissy was born in 1961. She also became an actress like her father and mother, appearing in films and TV shows like Time Patrol, Revenge of the Stepford Wives, Lou Grant, Gunsmoke and more. Lissy is also a singer and songwriter. Though it’s unclear when Lissy tied the knot, the actress is married to her husband, Raphael Elkind. The two share their kids, Henry Elkind and Peter Elkind.


CLEA NEWMAN

The couple’s youngest daughter, Clea, arrived in 1965. Clea also works in Hollywood, though she opted to stay behind the camera. Per IMDb, she’s worked in the editorial department and helped produced shows like Big Little Lies, Mad Men and Raising the Bar. Clea is also a married woman, having tied the knot with her husband, Kurt Soderlund. When she’s not with her hubby or working in showbiz, Clea is very dedicated to philanthropy, per Vanity Fair.

HEALTHWATCH: JOANNE WOODWARD UPDATE

Alzheimer's Disease has robbed actress Joanne Woodward of her fondest memories while her family feuds over her billion dollar estate.

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...

SOURCE

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: PAUL NEWMAN AND JOANNE WOODWARD

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward met in 1953, were cast together in “The Long Hot Summer” in 1957, married in 1958, and remained blissfully happy together for 50 years, celebrating their golden anniversary just months before Paul’s death in 2008. Here, in photographs, are one of the most beautiful marriages the world has had the pleasure to witness...

HEALTHWATCH: JOANNE WOODWARD

Hollywood legend Joanne Woodward is nearing her final days after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease according to reports by the Associated Press. The 84-year-old film legend and widow of actor, the late Paul Newman's deteriorating health issues became more evident and concerning for friends and fans after Woodward was a no show recently at a scheduled appearance a the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut.

Taking Woodward's place was her daughter Clea Newman. It was revealed that soon after the event started and it was evident that Joanne was unable to attend that friends and fans began realizing that Woodward's health was the cause of her absence. The Associated Press also revealed that Woodward is being cared for in her home in Westport by her daughter Melissa.Woodward is best known for long Hollywood film career and her Oscar win for her role in the 1957 film “The Three Faces of Eve."

Joanne, who is ravaged by Alzheimer’s disease, hasn’t been seen at public events since early 2013.Woodward married Newman in 1958 and share three daughters, Nell Newman, Melissa Newman, Claire Olivia Newman. Joanne Woodward began her log running Hollywood film career in 1955. During this time she continued her career move between Hollywood and Broadway, before becoming the understudy in the production of Picnic, which featured Paul Newman.

Newman and Woodward met and fell in love on the set and later married in 1958 after their work together in the film "The Long, Hot Summer." Throughout their career's Joanne and Paul appeared alongside each other in ten films. Woodward also starred in five feature films directed by her late husband Paul Newman. Newman married Woodward on February 2, 1958, in Las Vegas and remained married for 50 years until Newman's death from lung cancer in 2008.

Woodward's friends and fans are wishing her and her family comfort and peace throughout her final days....

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD AND THE OSCAR

The Oscar ceremony of today is much different than the classic ceremonies of the past. Hollywood was so much different in the classic days. Movie stars were true legends, and the Oscars was THE event of the year. Here are some memories of those classic days...

LUISE RAINER, 1937



INGRID BERGMAN, 1944



GARY COOPER AND BING CROSBY, 1944

AUDREY HEPBURN, 1953



GRACE KELLY AND CLARK GABLE, 1954



JOANNE WOODWARD AND PAUL NEWMAN, 1958