Paul Newman at Riverside International Raceway 1987

A dream came true for reporter Lorraine Kimel when she interviewed legendary actor Paul Newman, fresh from winning the Academy Award for best actor for 1986’s The Color of Money. She explains how she was able to pull off this reporting coup in April 1987.
When I was reporting, the only person I was desperate to meet was Paul Newman. One night, I was watching the TV news from Los Angeles and heard that Paul Newman was racing at Riverside International Raceway. Our news director Jim Holtzman said go and see if you can get him to agree to an interview. Paul Newman was notorious for not doing TV interviews, so I knew we’d be really lucky if he said yes. My cameraman, Charlie Landon and I found the paddock the where Newman ‘s car was and suddenly he was there! I sidled up his group and he looked at me, at which point I asked if he’d consider a brief interview with CBS San Diego. Without missing a beat, he said yes! I was composed during the interview but for the next two days, I felt like I was walking on air!!!!
Racing was a big part of his life then. He told Lorraine: “I think at this stage of my life it’s probably more important (racing). A-there’s not that many films to do and there are a lot of good cars to drive.” And regarding his no show at The Academy Awards: “I was actually happy I wasn’t there—it’s a mess—and I’ve been there enough times to know that…I was at home with my family—it was terrific.”
Interviews like this are very rare so thank you, Lorraine and Charlie, for taking a chance. Another buried treasure dug up and preserved forever. MORE: https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/loc...