PAUL NEWMAN - NEWMAN CHARITY EVENT NO-SHOW SPARKS HEALTH WORRIES

PAUL NEWMAN's failure to attend a fundraising event for his beloved children's charity over alleged "back problems" has sparked fears for his health. The 83-year-old was expected to make an appearance at an event to raise funds for his Hole In The Wall Gang Camps - the residential summer camp for seriously ill children he co-founded in 1988 - on Monday (10Mar08). But The Hustler star failed to attend the event, and instead greeted partygoers through a pre-recorded video message. Newman has also been forced to cancel a planned appearance on U.S. TV chat show the Late Show With David Letterman. In January (08), U.S. tabloid The National Enquirer reported the star was battling cancer and had undergone emergency surgery. However, Newman's representative Warren Cowan dismissed the allegations at the time, claiming the star was in hospital "being treated for athlete's foot and hair loss". In a newly released statement, he explains, "He's (Newman) having back problems. He has to stay off his feet for a couple of weeks."