Susan Kendall Newman, daughter of Paul Newman, dead at 72
Susan Kendall Newman, the actor, producer and activist who was the daughter of Paul Newman, has died aged 72.
Newman sadly died on August 2nd, 2025, following a lengthy battle with chronic health conditions, her family confirmed. She was the eldest daughter of her father, Paul, and his first wife, Jackie Witte.
Her first notable appearance on screen came in 1978 in I Wanna Hold Your Hand, when she played one of the screaming fans who tried to storm the stage when The Beatles announced themselves to America on The Ed Sullivan Show.
She also popped up in other films, including Snapshot, and alongside her father in the Robert Altman movie, A Wedding.
In addition to appearing on Broadway, Newman was a respected producer who was responsible for bringing the theatrical production, The Shadow Box, to television in 1980, which earned her an Emmy nomination.
Tragically, in 1978, her brother Scott died from a drug overdose. After his death, Paul founded the Scott Newman Center to help prevent others suffering from addiction. She joined the charity in 1980, and later became its executive director.
Additionally, she earned a Grammy nomination in the ‘Best Spoken Word Album for Children’ category for producing an audiobook series of classical literature for Simon & Schuster.
Per the Daily Mail, one colleague wrote online in tribute to Newman, “She was a huge help to me when I reported stories about trouble at the Newman Foundation, which runs Newmans Own, the philanthropic food company. She was so bright and articulate, and knew the inner workings of a troubled but important organization.”
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