2008 in Film History: A Year of Great Loss

One person I didn't expect to die was Charlton Heston. He was Moses. I surely thought God would allow him to stick around for a few more years. Then another man I admire died and that was Stan Winston. Unlike what I did for Heston, I wasn't able to write an article in tribute of arguably the greatest creature effects man in film history. But I certainly could go on and on about how great and important Winston's wizardry was to the industry. Now with the sudden and tragic loss of Paul Newman, it's hard not to write an article to commemorate the lives and talent of these three men.

Since Paul Newman has been battling cancer for some time, it is hard to say that his death was at all 'sudden'. But anyone who knows what its like to experience great loss should know this feeling. Newman stated that he had cancer 18 months ago. Then Newman's spokesman revealed that he was "doing nicely" but didn't confirm or deny the rumors of his illness. As it was said in a related article, we saw it coming but it didn't make it any less painful.

Did you know? Paul Newman founded his own company called, "Newman's Own" in 1982, producing many food products which include salad dressing and popcorn.

Stan Winston was born on April 7, 1946 in Arlington, Virginia. He died on June 15, 2008 in Malibu, California. That's a day before my birthday. What a great party his death made. After trying to be an actor, Winston got his start doing makeup as an apprentice at Walt Disney Studios. Then in the 1970s, Stan established his own studio and won an Emmy Award for his effects work in the telefilm, Gargoyles. But his big breakthrough would still be more than a decade away. Just like Newman, Stan had been battling cancer or multiple myeloma.

Paul Newman was born on January 26, 1925 in Shaker Heights, Ohio. His mother was Theresa Fetsko and his father was Arthur S. Newman. Paul was interested in theater from a very early age, starring as the court jester in a school production of Robin Hood at 7 years old. Then after high school and college, Newman served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater of WWII. Makes me wonder if he and my grandfather ever met, since he too was helping to fight the Japanese as an Aviation Radioman during the last great war.

Did you know? Stan Winston was deeply disappointed that Paul Anderson didn't come to him to do the creature effects for AVP: Alien versus Predator since Winston had designed the the Predator and the Alien Queen, stating that were like his "children".

After the success of Gargoyles, Stan Winston spent seven more years, receiving Emmy nominations for his work in such projects as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and the Wookie costumes used in the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special. In 1982, his ground-breaking work in John Carpenter's The Thing made him a well-known name in Hollywood. Then when Winston met a then unknown filmmaker, James Cameron, film history was in the making. Together, they created the iconic character of the exoskeleton in The Terminator. This great collaboration would not be their last.

Did you know? Before becoming the creature effects auteur with The Terminator, Stan Winston designed the Mr. Roboto facemask for the rock band, Styx. No wonder I'm always reminded of his Terminator designs when I hear that song.

After serving as a radioman/gunner in the battle for Okinawa in 1945, Newman came back to the States, finished school at Kenyon College and studied acting at Yale. He would go on to do Broadway plays; such as, William Inge's Picnic, The Desperate Hours and Sweet Bird of Youth. He had never acted in a film until 1954 when he was cast as Basil in a film is referred to as "Paul Newman and the Holy Grail" and from Newman's own mouth, "the worst motion picture produced during the 1950s," The Silver Chalice. But this wouldn't be the first or last feature film in which Paul Newman would star.

Did you know? Paul Newman loved auto racing. He had first become interested in motorsports while training for and filming the 1969 film, Winning. Newton was reported to say that car racing was "the first thing that I ever found I had any grace in." There have even been rumors that he and fellow actor and racing enthusiast, Steve McQueen considered themselves to be rivals in this arena. I think that's probably gossip. But if anyone had a problem, I'll bet that it was most likely McQueen.

In 1986, Stan Winston would again work with James Cameron on Aliens, giving the greatest movie monster more life and an even more terrifying mother in the Alien Queen. She was big and nasty. She drooled a lot. She hissed a lot. With a slash of her tail, she was able to cut anyone in half. And she had strong feelings about the death of her offspring. She was 20 feet tall. She was the largest marionette puppet of that time and the first creature that Stan Winston would win an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Then Winston would go on to grace us with even more iconic creatures throughout the 1980s in such films as Edward Scissorhands, John McTiernan's Predator, Alien Nation and The Monster Squad.

Did you know? According to Stan Winston, he was on a plane with James Cameron, trying to figure out what the Predator looked like. Cameron leaned over and tolled Stan that he had always wanted to see a creature or character with mandibles. Then Stan Winston added mouth that was very sexual in appearance and history was made.

Through the '60s and '70s, Paul Newman starred in such great films as Exodus, The Hustler, Hud, Harper, Hombre, Cool Hand Luke, The Towering Inferno, and Slap Shot. But Newman didn't become a legend until 1969, when Newman first teamed up with co-star Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The film, directed by George Roy Hill was originally suppose to star Newman as the Sundance Kid and Redford as Butch. Redford or someone in the production realized that it would look better if they switched roles. Thank God they did or else we wouldn't have the iconic Butch and Sundance that we have today. Then the two actors would work together again with Hill on The Sting in 1973, earning Oscars and Oscar nominations for the director and Redford. But what about Paul Newman? Well, don't fret. Newman would win Best Actor in a Leading Role for reprising his role as "Fast Eddie" from The Hustler in the Martin Scorcese film, The Color of Money. The Academy Awards nominated Paul a total of 8 times for such films as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, Hud, Road to Perdition and Cool Hand Luke. Truly, his was a career of a legendary actor.

Did you know? Paul Newman originally offered his role in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to Jack Lemmon. Lemmon didn't like riding horses. So, he turned down the role and left it up to Newman to give us one of film history's greatest characters. Also considered for either Butch or Sundance were Warren Beatty and Marlon Brando.

Finally, back to Stan Winston. Already a great name in the creature effects industry, Winston would once again team up with James Cameron for the practical effects of the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The two masters of their craft had already given us arguable the greatest robot ever seen on film in the T-800 exoskeleton in The Terminator. This time, they were going to take the effects industry by storm by giving us the greatest liquid metal robot imaginable in the T-1000. With the help of state-of-the-art, revolutionary CGI effects, James Cameron and Stan Winston made history once more. Then Stan got the gig, working for Steven Spielberg and the same CGI effects team from T2 on a little-known film called, Jurassic Park. From then on, no one could deny that Stan Winston was one of - if not THE pioneer in the creature effects industry.

Stan Winston would also lend his brilliance to such films as The Ghost and the Darkness, AI: Artificial Intelligence, Small Soldiers, Wrong Turn, End of Days, Constantine and the most recent, Iron Man. You could argue that Winston's wizardry helped to improve the quality of every film listed above. He would win Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects a total of 6 times and Oscars for Best Makeup a total of 4 times. Quite a great resume for the man who wrote the book on creature effects in film and television for the 21st century.

Whenever I think about the late, great Paul Newman, I can't help but remember the memory of seeing Newman's Butch Cassidy and his Hole in the Wall try to bust open a safe on a train by blowing up that entire box car. Redford's Sundance turned to him and asked, "Ya think you used enough dynamite there, Butch." Then of course, there was Butch's endless arguments with Redford's Sundance over Bolivia, jumping and swimming, and then, there's also the classic bike ride with Etta Place (Kathryn Ross). The image of him taking off his hat to greet her is good enough to bring a tear to your eyes. But I recommend you watch that film to the very end to fully appreciate his memory.

But no one should forget Newman as Luke Jackson in Cool Hand Luke, "Fast Eddie" in The Hustler and The Color of Money and that charming grifter/con man, Henry "Shaw" Gondorff in The Sting. His talent was staggering. Paul Newman could be the ultimate leading man, and the most dark, complex and harrowing character imaginable. He will surely be missed.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne Woodward, a legendary actor in her own right. She and Newman were married on January 29, 1958. Together, they had three daughters, Elinor "Nell" Teresa, Melissa "Lissy" Stewart, and Claire "Clea" Olivia. But before Joanne, there was Jackie Witte with whom he had a son, Scott and two daughters, Susan Kendall and Stephanie Scott Newman. Tragically, Scott Newman died from an accidental drug overdose. By the end though, Paul Newman had a total of 8 grandchildren by all of his girls.

Quotes concerning Charlton Heston's death

"We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather, with an infectious sense of humor," the family said. "He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity. He loved deeply, and he was deeply loved."

"To me, he was the consummate leading man. He was tall, he was handsome, he was sensitive, he was gruff when he had to be. He was a great cowboy, he was perfect for those historical roles. He could do everything, and there aren't many actors around today who could." - Shirley Jones

"He was one of Ronnie's and my dearest friends. I will never forget Chuck as a hero on the big screen in the roles he played, but more importantly I considered him a hero in life for the many times that he stepped up to support Ronnie in whatever he was doing." - Nancy Reagan

"He cared deeply about his craft and he loved his family, his work and his country with all his heart." - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

"Charlton Heston was a complex individual. He lived a long time, and certainly, there were many phases. The phases we prefer to remember were certainly his contributions to Dr. King and civil rights." - Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Round Table

Quotes concerning Paul Newman's death

"There is a point where feelings go beyond words. I have lost a real friend. My life - and this country - is better for his being in it." - Robert Redford.

"I was blessed to have know him. The world is better because of him. Sometimes God makes perfect people and Paul Newman was one of them." - Sally Field.

"Paul Newman's craft was acting. His passion was racing. His love was his family and friends. And his heart and soul were dedicated to helping make the world a better place for all. - Robert Forrester, vice chairman of Newman's Own Foundation.

"Paul was a very fine actor and a really good race driver. But mostly, he personified humanity - always taking care of those who were less fortunate. For me, this will be his legacy." - David Letterman.

"Paul and I have been partners for 26 years and I have come to know his passion, humor and, above all, his generosity. Not just economic generosity, but generosity of spirit. His support of the team's drivers, crew and the racing industry is legendary. His pure joy at winning a pole position or winning a race exemplified the spirit he brought to his life and to all those that knew him." - Carl Haas, Newman's racing-team partner.

"Yes, his eyes were that blue and beautiful. ... His legacy as a humanitarian for children around the world is unmatchable. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Joanne and the family." - Eva Marie Saint.

"Our father was a rare symbol of selfless humility, the last to acknowledge what he was doing was special. Intensely private, he quietly succeeded beyond measure in impacting the lives of so many with his generosity." - Newman's five daughters.

"Paul Newman was the ultimate cool guy who men wanted to be like and women adored. He was an American icon, a brilliant actor, a Renaissance man and a generous but modest philanthropist. He entertained millions in some of Hollywood's most memorable roles ever, and he brightened the lives of many more, especially seriously ill children, through his charitable works. - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"We mourn not only the passing of a screen legend, an actor of great depth and charisma who touched generations of fans, but we have lost a true Connecticut treasure in Paul Newman. We were blessed to have him as a friend and neighbor in Connecticut for nearly a half-century." - Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

"Paul was an American icon, philanthropist and champion for children. We will miss our dear friend, whose continued support always meant the world to us. Our prayers and thoughts are with Joanne and the Newman family and the many people who Paul impacted through his endless kindness and generosity." - U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton

Quotes concerning Stan Winston's death

"He was a giant. I was blessed to have known him. I worked with him on both Zathura and Iron Man. He was experienced and helped guide me while never losing his childlike enthusiasm. He was the king of integrating practical effects with CGI, never losing his relevance in an ever changing industry. I am proud to have worked with him and we were looking forward to future collaborations. I knew that he was struggling, but I had no idea that he would be gone so soon. Hollywood has lost a shining star." - Jon Favreau, director of Zathura and Iron Man

"I guess I would just say that on my first film when I was a 25 year old first time director, Stan Winston would call me "boss". That nod of support fuelled me through any tough times on the movie. Whenever I'd go to his shop to visit the guys working on my film, Stan would always walk up to me and shake my hand to greet me with a "you like what you see, boss?". His attitude was so empowering to me. I was amazed that even if you weren't Cameron or Spielberg, a legend like Stan would treat you with the same respect he'd give those guys. They say to be careful when you meet someone you idolize because your idol always disappoint you. Not this time. Stan supported me and I will always be grateful to him and wish I could've worked with him one last time." - Jonathan Liebesman, director of Darkness Falls

"I'm still reeling from the news. Losing Stan is a real blow for me, as I'm sure it is for a lot of people who loved his work. He was clearly a genius in his field. He and I talked about working together for years, but we never found the project to make it happen.

"Stan was one of those people it was impossible not to like. I met him around the time of Eraser. Back then Schwarzenegger was always throwing these dinners at his restaurant in Santa Monica-lots of food, wine, and cigars. And because Stan and I were fans of each other's work, we'd often wind up sitting together. We'd trade stories, talk movies, and laugh our asses off. Stan was a fantastic dinner companion, a real raconteur, and one of the most affable guys you'd ever meet. He was brimming with enthusiasm that was genuine. As revered an industry figure as he was, he was still basically the kid who loved movies and broke into the business for the magic of it, and he never let go of that attitude. Though the business itself can grind you down, it never jaded him or diminished his joy for the creative side of what we do. He simply loved movies too much to allow that. That impressed me enormously about him.

"One of the blessings of being in movies is when you meet icons whose work you deeply admire and they turn out to be fantastic people. They're the ones you're honored to encounter along the way, the people who are kind and gracious and inspiring in addition to being superbly talented. They exhibit genuine humanity and touch your heart in various ways, and you foolishly figure they'll always be around to get to know better as the years go on. But then they are taken far too soon, and you're left with the deep and lasting regret of not having gotten to know them nearly as well as you'd wanted or expected to. I've met and lost a number of extraordinary people who fall into this category, among them Roddy McDowell, John Frankenheimer, Sidney Pollack, Dave Stevens, and John Alvin. Stan Winston now sadly joins my list.

"The best way to sum up Stan is to share my best memory of him. I'll never forget how excited and honored we both felt the day we participated in presenting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to our mutual childhood hero, Ray Harryhausen. Stan and I spent the afternoon on a "pinch-me-because-I-must-be-dreaming" high. We kept pulling each other aside and muttering things like: "Wow, can you believe we're here? Can you believe we get to do this? Isn't this the coolest thing ever?" In short, we spent the day geeking out like a couple of giddy kids. Whenever I think of Stan, I'll think of his joy and his childlike enthusiasm that day." - Frank Darabont, director of The Shawshank Redemption

"Although Stan was prematurely gray, he always exuded so much youthful enthusiasm that he never seemed much older than 20, making today's sad news all the harder to accept.

"Like many of us who began as monster kids, he was eternally excited to be part of the movie business, even after becoming one of the major names in his field.

"I met Stan at Amblin when he was doing GOONIES, where he was providing a giant octopus that eventually got cut from the movie, and I admired his direction of PUMPKINHEAD, but we didn't really get the chance to work together until SMALL SOLDIERS, for which his studio provided most of the designs for the various living toys. The level of detail that went into the creation of these figures and their on-set animation was prodigious, and subject to lots of trial and error. How much was to be accomplished on-set and how much would be ceded to ILM's CGI artists was in constant flux. In the end the scale tilted more toward ILM than any of us had expected, but Stan and his guys were totally on board with whatever was best for the picture.

"But that was Stan's ethos.

"Whatever worked and made everybody look good.

"One less artist and a major loss for all of us.

"Rest in peace, Stan, with the knowledge you made a difference in the world you loved best." - Joe Dante, director of Gremlins

"Stan was a great man. I'm proud to have been his friend, and his collaborator on what for both of us, was some of our best work. We met in pre-production on Terminator in 1983, and quickly sized each other up as the kind of crazy son of a bitch that you wanted for a friend. We've stayed friends for over a quarter of a century, and would have been for much longer if he had not been cut down.

"We've lost a great artist, a man who made a contribution to the cinema of the fantastic that will resound for a long long time. I don't need to list the indelible characters he and his team of artists brought to the screen. Readers of your site know them.

"We all know Stan's work, the genius of his designs. But not even the fans necessarily know how great he was as a man. I mean a real man --- a man who knows that even though your artistic passion can rule your life, you still make time for your family and your friends. He was a good father, and he raised two great kids. His wife of 37 years, Karen, was with him in the beginning, helping him make plaster molds in their garage for low budget gigs on TV movies, and she was with him at the end.

"He was a man of incredible humor. When I think of him I see him smiling, usually a goofy grin as he twists his glasses askew on his nose doing a Jerry Lewis impression. Never afraid to play the clown, because he knew his colleagues respected him. He lived life full throttle, in work and play. Like me he loved fast cars, and whenever one of us would get a new toy, the other had to drive it (a practice which was strained for few years after I skidded his brand new Porsche turbo, just off the boat from Stuttgart, into his garage and stopped a half inch from the back wall). We even went to formula racing school together. For the last ten years or so we rode motorcycles on Sundays with Arnold Schwarzenegger and some other friends, not every week but as many Sundays as we could. There was a comradeship that comes from starting out together, and never betraying the respect and trust of that friendship over the years, but always being there for each other, that the three of us have shared." - James Cameron

Finally, I think it is safe to say that we've lost three legends of the film industry. They were all great actors. While he may have used his talents through latex and anamatronics, certainly Stan Winston was a great performer. But, not one of them will ever be forgotten. All of their talents will forever be printed on film. If you feel like you miss them, don't hesitate to throw your favorite Paul Newman film, your favorite Charlton Heston film or your favorite creature feature with the wizardry of Stan Winston in the ol' DVD or Blu-Ray player.

For more info on the life and death of Charlton Heston, please read my article, Here's to the Late, Great Charlton Heston.