Newman, the Academy-Award winning superstar, personified cool as an activist, race car driver, popcorn impresario and the anti-hero of such films as "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money."

Newman delivered a magnetic performance in "The Hustler," playing a smooth-talking, whiskey-drinking pool shark who takes on Minnesota Fats - played by Jackie Gleason - and becomes entangled with a gambler played by George C. Scott.

He won an honorary Oscar in 1986 "in recognition of his many and memorable compelling screen performances and for his personal integrity and dedication to his craft."

In 1994, he won a third Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, for his charitable work.

His most recent academy nod was a supporting actor nomination for the 2002 film "Road to Perdition."

As he passed his 80th birthday, he remained in demand, winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the 2005 HBO cable television drama "Empire Falls" and providing the voice of a crusty 1951 car in the 2006 Disney-Pixar hit, "Cars."

But in May 2007, he told ABC television's "Good Morning America" he had given up acting, though he intended to remain active in charity projects. "I'm not able to work anymore as an actor at the level I would want to," he said.

"You start to lose your memory, your confidence, your invention. So that's pretty much a closed book for me."

In the 1970s, Newman became fascinated with auto racing, a sport he studied when he starred in the 1972 film, "Winning."

After turning professional in 1977, Newman and his driving team made strong showings in several major races.

"We will miss our friend Paul Newman, but are lucky ourselves to have known such a remarkable person," Robert Forrester, vice chairman of Newman's Own Foundation, said in a statement.

Hotchner said Newman should have "everybody's admiration."

Newman is survived by his wife, five children, two grandsons and his older brother Arthur.