Paul Newman’s decision to turn down a part that clashed with his values
In 1975, Paul Newman was offered a major war film, with an impressive script and one of the highest paychecks of his career. But upon closer reading, he realized his character—a military officer—betrayed his comrades to save himself.
For Paul, who had lost close friends in World War II, this was unacceptable. “I can’t play a coward and have millions believe that’s okay,” he told the director.
Even after the studio offered to soften certain details, Paul refused and encouraged them to find someone else. The film later underperformed, but Newman never regretted his choice.
Work ethic after the incident
He became even more selective with roles, only accepting characters that aligned with his values. It meant fewer films, but each one carried weight and meaning.