Scott Newman

Alan Scott Newman (September 23, 1950 – November 20, 1978) was an American actor and stuntman whose most prominent roles were in The Towering Inferno and Breakheart Pass. He was the only son and the eldest child of actor Paul Newman. After Scott Newman's death from a drug overdose in 1978, his father established the Scott Newman Center, which is dedicated to preventing drug abuse through education.

Early life and career Newman was born Alan Scott Newman in Cleveland, Ohio, to Paul Newman and his first wife, Jackie Witte. When Scott was still a young boy with two younger sisters, Susan and Stephanie, his father moved to California to further his career, leaving his family in New York City. By 1958, his parents had divorced and his father had married Joanne Woodward. They settled in Westport, Connecticut, during the late 1960s, where Scott attended Staples High School briefly. Scott was expelled for bad behavior from some of the expensive private schools he attended.

By the late 1960s, Scott had dropped out of college and started to take jobs as a stuntman in his father's films, making over five hundred parachute jumps to become a certified instructor. Newman also played small parts in TV series during 1975, such as Marcus Welby, M.D., Harry O., and S.W.A.T.. During the same year, he also appeared in the Charles Bronson film Breakheart Pass.

Scott confided to family friend A. E. Hotchner: "It's hell being his son, you know. They expect you to be like him, or they try to get to him through me. All of f****** Hollywood seems to have screenplays they want me to give to him. Or for him to show up somewhere or another. I'm Paul Newman Jr, you know what I mean? But I don't have his blue eyes. I don't have his talent. I don't have his luck. I don't have anything . . . that's me. What do they want of me, Hotch? What do I want of me? All I have is the goddamn name."

Death After a motorcycle accident in the fall of 1978, he was taking painkillers to ease the discomfort of his injuries. He also accepted an offer of psychiatric help, paid for by his father. Police ruled the death as accidental. His father told Hotchner: "There's nothing you can say that will repair my guilt about Scott. It will be with me as long as I live."

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1974 The Towering Inferno Young Fireman 1975 The Great Waldo Pepper Duke 1975 Breakheart Pass Rafferty 1977 Fraternity Row Chunk Cherry