Paul was Already a Married Man
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s iconic relationship started back in 1953. At the time, Paul was married to Jackie Witte (his first wife), and they had three children together. The 28-year-old stud was about to make his Broadway debut in the play Picnic. Joanne, who was 22 at the time, was an understudy for the play and was sweating in her heels on that hot summer day.
Paul Newman with His Wife, Jackie Witte. Source: homedeaignbbn.com
She ran into her agent’s office, where the air conditioning was running, and that’s when she saw Paul Newman for the first time. When she described her first impression of him to Today, Woodward said he looked “like an ice cream soda ad.” With his suit on, his bright blue eyes, a great head of hair and, somehow, not one drop of sweat.