When you think of Paul Newman, you think of those eyes. Piercing, electric blue, almost impossibly bright. But for decades, a different part of his anatomy fueled a bizarre amount of tabloid fuel and set-side gossip. I'm talking about the height of Paul Newman, a topic that somehow became a point of genuine contention between the actor and the press.
He was the quintessential movie star. Cool. Detached but intense. Yet, if you ever saw him leaning against a brick wall in Cool Hand Luke or sized him up against Robert Redford in The Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, you might have noticed something. He wasn't exactly a giant.
In a world where leading men like Rock Hudson and Gregory Peck were pushing 6'4", Newman occupied a more "compact" space.
The 5'11" Claim vs. The 5'8" Reality
Paul Newman officially claimed he was 5'11". He stuck to that number for a long time. It’s the kind of height that puts a man safely in the "tall enough" category for Hollywood’s Golden Age. However, the New York Post once famously called his bluff.
The paper published an article claiming the height of Paul Newman was actually closer to 5'7".
Newman didn't just ignore it. He was notoriously prickly about his privacy and his image, and he reportedly offered a $1,000 reward to anyone who could prove he was under 5'11". It was a classic Newman move—confident, slightly defiant, and totally committed to the bit.
Honestly, most people who actually met him in person—fans at the race track or folks in Westport, Connecticut—tend to land on a different number. The consensus from eye-witness accounts usually hovers around 5'8" or 5'9".
- Official Studio Stats: 5'11"
- New York Post Allegation: 5'7"
- Fan/Eyewitness Consensus: 5'8" - 5'9"
- Late Life Estimate: 5'7" (accounting for natural age-related shrinkage)
Basically, Newman was a master of presence. On screen, he looked like a titan. Off-screen, he was a guy who probably wore slightly thicker heels on his boots and knew exactly how to stand so he didn't look "short" next to his leading ladies.
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Why Height Mattered in Old Hollywood
You've gotta remember that back then, leading men were supposed to be statues. Physical dominance was a prerequisite for the "tough guy" or the "romantic hero." If an actor was on the shorter side, studios would go to ridiculous lengths to hide it.
They used "apple boxes" (literally wooden boxes for actors to stand on), dug trenches for taller co-stars to walk in, and utilized specific camera angles to force perspective.
Newman didn't really need those tricks as much because of his build. He was lean. He had that "fine-boned" look that actually makes a person appear taller on camera. Plus, his charisma was so heavy it practically added two inches to his stature.
Compare him to Robert Redford. Redford is usually listed at 5'10", and in their films together, they look almost identical in height. If Redford was truly 5'10", then the height of Paul Newman being 5'9" seems like the most honest bet.
The Famous Feud with the New York Post
The beef with the Post wasn't just about a ruler. It started during the filming of Fort Apache: The Bronx. Newman felt the paper was stirring up trouble within the local community against the production.
When the paper pivoted to attacking his height, it felt personal. It was a petty war. On one side, a major metropolitan newspaper; on the other, the biggest movie star in the world arguing about whether he was 5'11" or 5'7".
It’s sorta funny when you think about it now. A man who won Oscars, raced at Le Mans, and gave hundreds of millions to charity via Newman's Own was genuinely annoyed by a gossip columnist’s tape measure.
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Sizing Up the Legend
Does it actually matter how tall he was? Probably not.
But it tells us a lot about the "Magic of Movies." Newman himself once said, "I was always a character actor. I just looked like Little Red Riding Hood." He knew his looks—and his perceived "perfection"—were a bit of a trap.
Being 5'8" or 5'9" didn't stop him from being the most magnetic person in any room. In fact, his slightly smaller frame probably helped him play those "everyman" rebels better than a 6'4" linebacker ever could. He felt accessible. He was a guy you could imagine having a beer with, even if he was way more handsome than any of your real friends.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you're trying to gauge the true scale of classic stars, don't look at the IMDb "Bio" section. That's usually just PR copy from 1955. Instead, look at:
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- Footwear: Check out the heels on his boots in Hud. Those aren't flat soles.
- Comparison Shots: Look for candid photos of him at the racetrack standing next to drivers. Racing suits and flat sneakers don't lie as much as movie sets do.
- The Aging Factor: Human beings lose height as they get older. By the time Newman was in his late 70s, he was likely around 5'7", which might be where some of the later "short" rumors gained more traction.
The height of Paul Newman is ultimately a footnote to a massive life. He was a giant of a man in every way that actually counted—philanthropy, art, and integrity. Whether he was 5'8" or 6'2", he would have still owned the screen.
To get a real sense of his presence, skip the height charts and go watch The Hustler. Pay attention to how he carries himself. That’s where the real "height" is found. You'll see a man who never looked small, regardless of who he was standing next to.