Susan Kendall Newman has died at the age of 72. The actress and producer – who is the daughter of actor and director Paul Newman – died following complications from chronic health conditions.
The actress died in August but an obituary has been shared in her memory this October. It reads: “Susan Kendall Newman, a lifelong philanthropist and social activist devoted to civil rights, conservation education, and anti-war and nuclear disarmament efforts, passed away on August 2, 2025 from complications from chronic health conditions. She was 72.
“Ms. Newman began her career in the arts, appearing in productions on and off Broadway as well as in several feature films, including a starring role in the Spielberg/ Zemeckis film I Wanna Hold Your Hand. She later distinguished herself as a television producer, excelling in the adaptation of classical stage plays for the then-emerging cable television industry …
(
Bettmann Archive)
“Susan Kendall Newman will be remembered for her sharp wit and tongue, generosity and love, and her devotion to family and friends. She will be very much missed.”
Susan rose to fame starring as one of the six teenagers desperate to see the Beatles first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964 in movie I Wanna Hold Your Hand. She also starred in Slap Shot and A Wedding, which also featured her father.
She also received an Emmy nomination for her work on The Shadow Box, which was directed by her father and starred her stepmother, Oscar winner Joanne Woodward. Susan produced the presentation.
Susan also produced an audiobook series of classical literature made family-friendly, which earned her a Grammy nomination for best spoken word album for children.
Away from the arts, Susan was a keen activist and worked on multiple projects to support the community. Her obituary reads: “In later years, Ms. Newman focused her advocacy on education, juvenile justice, conservation, and healthcare.
“She collaborated with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and VoteRiders on election protection efforts, supported environmental preservation in Big Sur, and partnered with Oregon Health & Science University to fund melanoma prevention campaigns and leukemia research.
“She was instrumental in shaping the philanthropic strategies of a private foundation and took pride in helping identify impactful grassroots organizations, support at-risk communities often overlooked by mainstream philanthropy, and develop innovative approaches to disaster relief through local endowments.”
Susan was the daughter of Paul Newman and his first wife Jackie Witte.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply