How Many Children Did Paul Newman Have: The Family Story Beyond the Screen

Paul Newman was the kind of guy who made excellence look effortless. Whether he was leaning against a brick wall in a denim jacket or tearing up a race track, he had this magnetism that felt untouchable. But behind the blue eyes and the salad dressing empire, there was a man trying to navigate the messy, complicated world of fatherhood. People always ask, how many children did paul newman have, usually because they’ve heard fragments of the story—the long marriage to Joanne Woodward, the tragic loss of a son, or the daughters who now run his charities.

To give you the straight answer: Paul Newman had six children.

It wasn't a single, tidy family unit, though. His kids came from two different chapters of his life. He had three children with his first wife, Jackie Witte, and three daughters with his second wife, Joanne Woodward. If you look at the timeline, it’s a classic Hollywood story that eventually settled into a very un-Hollywood life in Connecticut.

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The First Chapter: Scott, Susan, and Stephanie

Before the world knew him as a superstar, Paul was a struggling actor married to Jackie Witte. They met in summer stock theater, and honestly, they were just two young people trying to make it. By the time Paul’s career started to ignite, he already had three kids at home.

Scott Newman was the eldest and the only son. Born in 1950, he was the one who felt the weight of the "Newman" name the most. Imagine being the son of the most handsome, successful man in the world. It’s a lot to carry. Scott tried his hand at acting and stunt work, even appearing in The Towering Inferno with his dad. But he struggled deeply with addiction. In 1978, Scott died of an accidental drug overdose at just 28. It was a pivot point for Paul. He once told a friend that the guilt would stay with him as long as he lived.

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Then there’s Susan Kendall Newman. She was born in 1953 and followed the creative path, working as a documentary filmmaker and actress. You might have spotted her in I Wanna Hold Your Hand or even briefly alongside her father in Slap Shot. Sadly, Susan passed away quite recently, in August 2025, leaving behind a legacy of her own film work and philanthropy.

Stephanie Kendall Newman, born in 1954, is the one who chose the quietest life. While her siblings were often in the mix of the family’s public-facing projects, Stephanie mostly stayed out of the limelight. You won’t find many tabloid stories about her, and that’s likely exactly how she wants it.

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The Woodward Era: Nell, Lissy, and Clea

When Paul married Joanne Woodward in 1958, they became Hollywood’s "gold standard" couple. They stayed married for 50 years, which is basically a millennium in actor years. Together, they had three more daughters who grew up in the family’s farmhouse in Westport, Connecticut.

• Elinor "Nell" Newman: Born in 1959, Nell is probably the most famous of the daughters because of "Newman’s Own Organics." She’s the one who convinced her dad to go organic. She used to be an actress (using the name Nell Potts), but her heart was always in environmental biology and sustainable food.
• Melissa "Lissy" Stewart: Born in 1961, Lissy dabbled in acting as a kid but found her groove in art and teaching. She has spent years volunteering, giving acting classes at women’s correctional facilities. She’s also the one who recently put together a beautiful book about her parents' love story, Head Over Heels.
• Claire "Clea" Olivia: The youngest, born in 1965. Clea is the face of the family’s charitable soul today. She’s an ambassador for the SeriousFun Children’s Network, the global community of camps her father founded for kids with serious illnesses.

A Legacy That Isn't Just Movies

If you ever find yourself in a deep dive about Paul Newman, you’ll realize he didn't want his kids to be "Hollywood brats." He moved them to Connecticut to give them some semblance of a normal life. He was a guy who loved his kids but admitted he wasn't always the perfect "Father Knows Best" figure. The loss of Scott changed how he parented his daughters; it made him more present, though he remained a man of few words.

The real answer to the question of his children isn't just a number. It’s the fact that they took his "absurd luck" (his words) and turned it into something useful. From Nell’s organic crackers to Clea’s work with sick kids, the Newman children didn't just inherit a name—they inherited a responsibility.

How to Explore the Newman Family Legacy Further:

1. Watch "The Last Movie Stars": This 2022 docuseries directed by Ethan Hawke is the most honest look at Paul and Joanne's marriage and their roles as parents.
2. Support SeriousFun Children’s Network: This is the primary way the family continues Paul's work. You can see the direct impact of Clea's leadership there.
3. Read "Head Over Heels": If you want to see the private side of their family life through Lissy’s eyes, this photo book is a must-have.