PAUL NEWMAN - PAUL NEWMAN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

PAUL NEWMAN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Veteran Hollywood star Paul Newman has announced his retirement from acting after a glittering career spanning more than five decades.

Oscar-winning Newman, who has starred in legendary films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the Colour of Money and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, revealed his plans to retire from acting during an interview on ABC's Good Morning America.

"I'm not able to work anymore as an actor at the level I would want to," the 82-year-old actor told the US network.

"You start to lose your memory, your confidence, your invention. So that's pretty much a closed book for me."

As well as being one of the world's most acclaimed actors, a successful stint as a director and, unusually, a motorsports champion, Newman has also made a name for himself in the world of philanthropy.

In 1982 Newman and writer friend AE Hotchner founded food brand Newman's Own which started by making salad dressings but now produces lemonade, pasta sauce and popcorn. All profits, after tax, are donated to charities and in 2006 donations totalled more than $200 million (£100.77 million).

He is also actively involved in the Hole in the Wall Gang group of summer camps which provides a free activity summer break for 13,000 seriously ill children in the US, Ireland, Israel and France every year.

Speaking of his time on the silver screen, stage and behind the camera, Newman admitted he was ready for a break.

"I've been doing it for 50 years. That's enough."