Joanne Woodward Lost Her Husband After 50 Years of Marriage & Now ‘Doesn’t Even Remember the Love of Her Life’ — Their Story

Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman built a life together that endured professional success, personal struggles, and profound loss. Their relationship lasted for five decades, marked by both devotion and challenges. But in her final years, Joanne no longer remembers the man with whom she shared it all.

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s love story began in the 1950s, leading to a marriage that lasted half a century. Despite career pressures and personal struggles, they remained devoted to each other until Paul’s passing.

Joanne was diagnosed with a health issue shortly before losing Paul, and her condition has since worsened. Today, at 94, she no longer remembers the life they shared, relying on her daughters for constant care.

Joanne and Paul’s Love Story Began in the 1950s

Paul and Joanne first crossed paths in the early 1950s at the Actors Studio in New York. At the time, Paul was married to his first wife, Jackie Witte, with whom he had a young son, Scott. Joanne, a promising actress from Georgia, was also working toward a career in Hollywood.

Their bond strengthened in 1953 when they worked together on the Broadway play “Picnic.” Paul, captivated by Joanne’s talent and intelligence, found himself drawn to her. However, he was still married, and their relationship remained platonic for several years.

Over time, Paul’s marriage with Jackie grew strained, and his connection with Joanne deepened. He and Joanne reunited on-screen in “The Long, Hot Summer” (1958), and shortly after, Paul finalized his divorce. After parting ways with Jackie, he and Joanne wasted no time in making their union official.

They married in Las Vegas that same year, beginning a partnership that would last for five decades. The couple settled in Westport, Connecticut, choosing a life away from Hollywood’s glare while continuing to build their remarkable careers.

A Marriage Marked by Love and Hardships

Paul and Joanne’s marriage was built on a deep bond, but it was not without difficulties. While they were known as one of Hollywood’s most enduring couples, their relationship faced challenges. It was marked by personal sacrifices, family tensions, and Paul’s struggle with alcohol.

At one point, Joanne, an Academy Award-winning actress, decided to step back from her career to raise their three daughters—Nell, Melissa “Lissy,” and Claire “Clea” Newman. She dedicated herself to creating a stable home, while Paul pursued an intense career in Hollywood, starring in some of his most iconic films.

While both found success, the demands of Paul’s work meant long periods away from home, and his absence took a toll on the family. Paul also had three children from his first marriage—Scott, Susan, and Stephanie. His relationship with them, especially with Scott, was strained.

After divorcing his first wife, Jackie, Paul did not see his children regularly. Scott, the eldest, resented his father and developed a strong dislike for Joanne, blaming them both for the dissolution of his parents’ marriage. As he grew older, Scott struggled with substance abuse.

Despite attempts at reconciliation in the 1970s, their relationship remained complicated. Tragedy struck in 1978 when Scott died from an overdose at the age of 28. Paul was devastated, later admitting that he wished he had done more to help his son.

In the years that followed, he focused more on his family and worked to repair the damage caused by his absence. Through the ups and downs, Paul and Joanne’s love remained. A close friend once shared, “There were some rough times and a give-and-take on both sides. But the close loving bond between them would prove to be unbreakable.”

Paul’s drinking became a growing issue in their marriage, and in 1969, he was rumored to have had an affair with journalist Nancy Bacon. The betrayal caused strain between them, but Joanne did not walk away. Over time, Paul worked to rebuild trust, and he made efforts to repair the damage his drinking had caused.

In later years, he expressed gratitude for Joanne’s sacrifices. To support her career, he took on roles behind the camera, directing and producing films that allowed her to showcase her acting talents.

Their marriage was not perfect, but their commitment to one another never wavered. But as they entered the final years of their lives, Paul and Joanne’s relationship would face its most difficult test yet.

Paul’s Final Years and Passing

By the mid-2000s, Paul began showing signs of decline. In May 2007, he publicly announced his retirement from acting, citing memory loss and a lack of confidence in his abilities. “I’m not able to work anymore… at the level that I would want to,” he admitted.

While he did not initially reveal any serious health concerns, speculation grew about his well-being. That same year, Joanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Just nine days later, Paul received devastating news of his own—he had terminal cancer.

The couple, who had spent five decades together, now faced a heartbreaking reality: their time together was running out. Paul initially kept his diagnosis private, downplaying concerns as he underwent treatment. However, by August 2008, it became clear that his condition was worsening.

He completed chemotherapy and decided to spend his final days at home in Connecticut, surrounded by family. On September 26, 2008, Paul passed away at the age of 83. His publicist, Jeff Sanderson, confirmed that he had died peacefully at his farmhouse near Westport, Connecticut, with his loved ones by his side.

His daughter Melissa later reflected, “We always felt that my mom was so strong that if anything ever happened to her my dad would fall apart. But if something happened to my dad, my mom would be fine. And I really think that’s why he left the planet when he did.”

Paul’s death marked the end of an era, but the struggles for Joanne were just beginning. As her Alzheimer’s progressed, the memories of the man she had loved for 50 years began to fade.

Joanne’s Memory Loss and Battle with Alzheimer’s

While Joanne was still in the early stages of the disease at the time of Paul’s death, her condition rapidly worsened in the years that followed. At first, her daughters believed her forgetfulness was due to grief, but as time went on, it became clear that something much more serious was happening.

By 2015, Joanne’s memory loss had progressed to the point where she no longer remembered Paul. According to a family insider, she would occasionally mention being married to someone handsome but could not recall his name. “She doesn’t even remember the love of her life,” shared the insider.

As the disease took hold, she lost recognition of those closest to her. A source close to the family revealed, “She barely speaks anymore and hardly ever recognizes her own daughters or grandchildren. It’s heartbreaking to see her this way.”

Joanne now requires round-the-clock care and is rarely seen in public. For a time, she was treated at Yale University’s Adler Geriatric Assessment Center, where she participated in a drug trial, but her condition continued to decline.

Doctors ultimately determined that further treatments would be ineffective, and her family accepted that she was reaching the final stages of the disease. Though Joanne’s memories have faded, her daughters remain devoted to her care.

Her Family’s Support and Lasting Legacy

Nell, Melissa, and Clea have remained by their mother’s side. They continue to honor both of their parents’ legacies while ensuring Joanne receives the best possible care. Melissa, in particular, has taken on a central role in her mother’s well-being, living next door to Joanne’s longtime Connecticut home to stay close.

The sisters stay in close contact with Joanne’s healthcare team, monitoring her condition as the disease progresses. Though Joanne no longer remembers her family, they still cherish their time with her. In recent years, Nell has shared heartfelt tributes to her mother on social media.

On Mother’s Day in 2023, she posted old photos of Joanne and wrote, “My mother was a saint, I always say. She raised three of her own children and three of Pops as well, giving up a part of her career in the process. I feel blessed to have received her love and affection throughout my life.”

A year earlier, on Mother’s Day 2022, Nell had also shared a loving tribute, calling Joanne her “best friend of a lifetime.” She praised her mother’s “intelligence, compassion, patience, and creativity”—qualities that defined Joanne both as an actress and as a devoted mother.

Nell has also shared rare glimpses of her mother’s interactions with her family. In May 2022, she posted a picture of Joanne with her grandson.

“Hennytheartist is my lovely and talented nephew who will probably be appalled I’m posting this. He’s always been a creative, especially as a dancer, seen here jitterbugging and playing air guitar with his grandma,” she wrote.

Melissa has also spoken about her parents’ relationship, offering insight into the dynamics that made their love last. She described their bond as intense, saying they were “artistic compatriots, they were lovers, and they were fighters.”

She noted that their relationship wasn’t without its struggles. “They could have their knockdown, drag-out fights, but they always came clinging back to each other,” Melissa shared. “Which is amazing in Hollywood—that they managed to navigate this relationship.”

She went on to recall the joy Paul found in being a grandfather. She shared that some of her most vivid memories were of him playing in the sandbox with her children. “You’ve never seen anybody so happy as my dad in a sandbox,” she said.

Paul and Joanne’s story has continued to inspire new generations. Their relationship was explored in “The Last Movie Stars,” a 2022 documentary directed by Ethan Hawke, as well as Paul’s posthumous memoir, “The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man.”

Years after his passing, Paul is still remembered as one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood. He starred in films such as “Cool Hand Luke,” “The Hustler,” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” His legacy also extends far beyond Hollywood.

He was deeply committed to philanthropy, a passion that became a defining part of his later years. In 1982, he co-founded Newman’s Own, a food company that donates all profits to charitable causes.

By 2006, it had contributed over $250 million to charities supporting children, education, and medical research. Paul also established the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a program designed to give children with serious illnesses a place to experience joy and adventure.

Robert Forrester, vice-chairman of the Newman’s Own Foundation, once said, “Paul had an abiding belief in the role that luck plays in one’s life and its randomness. True to his character, he quietly devoted himself to helping offset this imbalance.”

Joanne, who turns 95 on February 27, 2025, is also remembered as being one of the most respected actresses of her generation. During her career, she won an Academy Award for “The Three Faces of Eve.”

She also went on to star in critically acclaimed films such as “Rachel, Rachel,” “Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams,” and “Mr. & Mrs. Bridge.” Together, Paul and Joanne amassed two Academy Awards and four Emmys.

Melissa recalled her father’s deep admiration for Joanne as an actress. “He really felt like my mother was the most important,” she said. “As far as being an actor, he placed my mother above him as an actor till the day he died, I think.”

Clea once described their relationship, saying, “They respected each other and laughed more than any couple I have ever known.” Though Alzheimer’s has taken Joanne Woodward’s memories, the life they created together lives on through their children, their films, and the countless people they touched.