Paul Newman, the famed actor and philanthropist, is battling cancer, according to reports on Wednesday.
Writer W. E. Hotchner, Newman's longtime business partner who helped him start Newman's Own salad dressing, confirmed that Newman, 83, indeed had cancer.
Newman told Hotchner that he had the disease 18 months ago. "I know that it's a form of cancer," Hotchner told The Associated Press. "It's a form of cancer and he's dealing with it."
Newman issued a statement late Tuesday that he's "doing nicely" but didn't specifically address questions about cancer.
Martha Stewart posted a picture of her and Newman on her blog, in which Newman looked very thin, sparking rumors that Newman was ill.
Last month, Stewart attended Newman's fundraiser for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a summer camp for seriously ill children in Ashford, Connecticut.
Newman won an Oscar for his leading role in 1986's "The Color of Money." His screen credits also include "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke," "The Verdict" and "Road to Perdition."
"I think he's feeling quite well," said actor James Naughton, who spoke to Newman on Monday night. "As far as I can tell he's doing very well." Newman had an infection over the winter, but seems to have that under control, Naughton said.
In addition to Newman's Own, which broadened out from salad dressing into popcorn, spaghetti sauce and other foods, Newman also owns a racing car team. Newman's Own has donated over $200 million to charity.
Newman lives with his wife Joanne Woodward in Westport, Connecticut. Newman and Woodward have been married since 1958 and have three daughters together: Elinor Teresa (1959; known professionally as Nell Potts), Melissa "Lissy" Stewart (1961), and Claire "Clea" Olivia (1965).
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