Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s Daughter on the ‘Good Lesson’ Her ‘Inextricably Connected’ Parents Taught Her (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman circa 1987.Photo:Michel Dufour/WireImage

Michel Dufour/WireImage

The youngest daughter ofPaul Newmanand the legendary actressJoanne Woodwardhonors her dad’s legacy of philanthropy on what would have been his 100th birthday (Jan. 26), deeming 2025 “The Year of SeriousFun.”

Clea Newman, 59, is an ambassador forSeriousFun Children’s Network, a family of 30 camps and programs that Newman and theNewman’s Own Foundationstarted for children with serious illnesses.

In 1988, the late movie icon opened the first camp, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, and Clea saidit became “part of his persona”and where he dedicated all of his free time. Newman’s vision for the camps was a place for kids to escape the fear, pain and isolation of living with serious medical conditions.

Clea Newman in 2018.Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/Getty

Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/Getty

Today, SeriousFun has offered 2 million camp experiences, which are free of charge, serving more than 130 medical conditions and a wide range of rare diseases. Every camp is fully equipped for pediatric care, and medication is administered without disrupting the fun for campers, whether they’re at the boat dock, pool or high-ropes course.

If there’s one thing I could tell you, it’s you were right. You had a way of leading me in a better direction without me knowing it. After I started working for a law firm and realized it wasn’t for me, you suggested I volunteer at our first SeriousFun Children’s Network Camp in Ashford, Conn. I drove into camp a naive twentysomething and left a different person. You saw that kids with life- threatening illnesses were missing out on their childhood and said they needed a place where they “could kick back and raise a little hell.”

You always said, “Newmans are late bloomers.” You thought you didn’t give a great performance untilThe Verdict[in 1982]. You became incredibly present as a father, especially later in life. I remember you taking me to Madison Square Garden for a horse show, even though you were deathly allergic. I had to be there at 3 in the morning, and you took allergy medicine all day! Even in your 80s you couldn’t wait to get into your race car. No wonder your grandkids called you Superman.

Watching how inextricably you and Mom were connected was another good lesson. You did a beautiful job growing old together and enjoying the simple things—finding a bed-and-breakfast, reading the paper together.

You told me to please take care of Mom and take care of the camps. As of your 100th birthday [Jan. 26] we will have helped more than 2 million kids. Again, you were right. Being part of this beautiful thing gives me hope for the future.

source: people.com