Fact-Checking Hollywood Myth: Did Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward Fall in Love at First Sight?
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
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Q1: Did Paul Newman leave his first wife immediately after meeting Joanne Woodward?
A1: No. Newman met Woodward in August 1953 but remained married to Jackie Witte for nearly five more years. The divorce was only finalized in late 1957 after Newman and Woodward filmed The Long Hot Summer together.
Q2: Where did Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward first meet in person?
A2: They met in the air-conditioned Manhattan office of theatrical agent Maynard Morris at MCA during a severe New York heatwave in August 1953.
Q3: Was their meeting truly love at first sight?
A3: Only on Newman’s side. Newman was captivated immediately by Woodward's wit and presence, but Woodward found him uncomfortably pretty, overly slick, and irritating before they bonded as colleagues on Broadway.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
