Paul Newman has stunned film fans by revealing he’s about to retire from the movie business.
The 75-year-old Hollywood great – whose latest film, “Where the Money Is,” opens today – told David Letterman that his acting career is in its twilight.
“I think I’m going to try to do one more film as a swan song and then get out,” Newman said as Letterman’s “Late Show” audience gasped in surprise. “That will be it.”
The shocked host, not sure whether he’d heard right, asked Newman again if there was only one more film up his sleeve.
“Yeah,” the blue-eyed movie legend answered.
Newman gave no hints about what his last movie might be, who will direct it and who will co-star with him.
But he mentioned that he loves working with his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, with whom he’s done six films.
Newman also took a shot at the blood-drenched, sex-filled movies coming out today – boasting that his PG-rated “Where the Money Is” is clean and family-oriented.
“We don’t mutilate 50 bodies in the first five minutes to get your attention, there’s no real violence…no overt sex, no frontal nudity,” the star said.
The silver-haired actor – who’s appeared in 56 flicks and directed five – also revealed his Newman’s Own food business, which includes salad dressing and popcorn, has raised $100 million for charities.
“It out-grosses my films, which is humiliating,” Newman quipped.
In his new movie, Newman plays convict Henry Manning, who’s transferred to a nursing home after supposedly suffering a stroke and then secretly starts planning one final caper.
In one scene, actress Linda Fiorentino, who plays his nurse, gives the bedridden Newman a lap dance to see if he’s really faking.
Filming that sexy scene, Newman admitted, was “pretty good.”
The heartthrob says the one thing he never plans to give up is his love of auto racing.