The Hustler with Clea Newman
Post-screening Q&A with Clea Newman (daughter of Paul Newman), moderated by film critic and journalist Loren King.
Copies of Paul Newman's memoir The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man (afterword by Clea Newman) will be available for purchase—courtesy of Brookline Booksmith—following the Q&A.
About the Film
The pool table provides a test of skill and character in this evocative drama featuring Paul Newman in his first truly iconic role.
Newman is electrifying as "Fast" Eddie Felson, an arrogant, amoral hustler who haunts backstreet pool rooms, fleecing anyone who'll pick up a cue. Crashing after a match with undisputed pool room champion Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason, in a rare dramatic role), Felson attempts to pull himself back up with the help of an alcoholic debutante (Piper Laurie) and a shifty, calculating promoter (George C. Scott).
One of the essential films of the 1960s, the film (based on the novel by Walter Tevis, who also wrote The Queen’s Gambit and The Man Who Fell to Earth) received seven Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture and Best Actor) and two wins (Best Art Direction and Cinematography). 25 years later, Newman would reprise the role of Felson in Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money, which earned him his only Best Actor Oscar win.
About Clea Newman
Clea Newman serves as the proud Ambassador and spokesperson for SeriousFun Children’s Network (SeriousFun), helping to elevate awareness of the mission and advance the legacy of her father and SeriousFun founder, Paul Newman. SeriousFun is a global network of 30 camps and programs providing life-changing experiences to children living with serious illnesses and their family members, totally free of charge. Since Paul Newman opened the first SeriousFun camp in 1988, the Network has provided over 1.6 million experiences to children and families from more than 50 countries around the world.
As the youngest daughter of the legendary acting couple Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Clea’s parents not only encouraged her to find her passion in life and pursue it with fervor, they also taught her the importance and power of giving back. Those two lessons merged for Clea when she discovered her passion in life was philanthropy and working to advance the causes and organizations she cared about. Always supportive of the SeriousFun mission, Clea started her philanthropic endeavors by working on the Development team at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (the first SeriousFun Camp). Previously, Clea served on SeriousFun’s Board of Directors where she was the chair of the Development Committee.
Currently, Clea serves as the Board Chair for Wild Earth Allies, an organization that protects vital areas of our natural world for the benefit of wildlife, habitats, and people by inspiring collaborative action. She also serves on the Board of AIND Next Steps Giant Steps, an organization that enhances the lives of children and adults with ASD and other neuro-biologically based learning, developmental and genetic disorders by developing and maintaining outreach, educational, recreational, and therapeutic programs and supporting related clinical related clinical and medical research. Clea served as Director of Development at Giant Steps School for seven years before taking on her role at SeriousFun.
Clea holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. She resides in Fairfield, CT with her husband Kurt Soderlund. A serious horseback rider since the age of six, Clea is still an avid rider and enjoys a variety of fitness activities including hiking, yoga and running.
