Paul Newman did not attend the 1987 Academy Awards ceremony to accept his Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Color of Money. His absence stemmed from his long history with the Academy Awards, feeling that by the time he finally won a competitive Oscar, he was "over the whole thing."
A Long Road to a Competitive Win
Newman had a storied career marked by numerous critical and popular successes, yet a competitive Academy Award eluded him for decades. By the time of his win for The Color of Money, he had already accumulated:
- Six previous nominations for acting.
- Two honorary Oscars, including one received in 1986 for his lifetime achievements just a year prior to his competitive win.
This extensive recognition without a win in a performance category led to a sense of detachment regarding the competitive award by the time it finally arrived.
Newman's Perspective
Newman famously articulated his feelings about the belated win, comparing it to a prolonged pursuit: "It's like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years. Finally, she relents, and you say, 'I'm terribly sorry, I'm tired.'" His sentiment reflected the long wait and the fact that he had already been acknowledged by the Academy multiple times, making the competitive win feel less significant to him personally at that point.
