Jackie Witte: The Untold Story Of Paul Newman's First Wife & Life After...
Who was the woman who first captured the heart of one of Hollywood's most iconic leading men? Jackie Witte, the largely unsung first wife of Paul Newman, lived a life that, while intertwined with a legend, possessed its own unique and compelling narrative.
While the world knows the love story of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, a chapter often overlooked is the one dedicated to Jackie Witte. Before the accolades, the awards, and the enduring public romance, there was Jackie. She met Paul Newman in college, a period when both were on the cusp of defining their futures. Jackie, also known as Jacqueline McDonald, was born in September 1929 in the United States of America. While the details of her early life remain somewhat obscure, her life was marked by pivotal moments and significant relationships. Her association with Newman, though relatively brief in the public eye, offers a glimpse into the formative years of a star, and the woman who stood beside him before his meteoric rise.
Here's a look at the life and times of Jackie Witte:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jacqueline Emily Witte (ne McDonald) |
| Date of Birth | September 15, 1929 |
| Place of Birth | Cook County, Illinois, USA |
| Date of Death | May 19, 1994 |
| Place of Death | New York, New York, USA |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse | Paul Newman (married December 27, 1949, divorced January 28, 1958) |
| Children | Scott Newman (born September 23, 1950), Susan Kendall Newman, Stephanie Newman |
| Known For | First wife of Paul Newman |
| Career | Aspiring actress and model |
| Meeting with Paul Newman | Met at College in 1949 |
| Marriage Details | Married December 27, 1949, in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH; divorced January 28, 1958, in New York City, New York County, NY |
| Link for Reference | IMDB - Paul Newman |
Jackie Witte's life began in September 1929. She entered into a marriage with Paul Newman on December 27, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio. They were married for nine years before their divorce on January 28, 1958, in New York City. The pair married before Newman became a household name. Jackie and Newman were young when they married, and their union ended in divorce.
Their relationship saw its share of challenges, particularly as Newman's career soared. Newman was still a struggling actor, attending Yale Drama School and working odd jobs when they met. Jackie was an aspiring actress herself. They had three children during their marriage: Scott Newman, Susan Newman, and Stephanie Newman.
Paul Newmans enduring love story with Joanne Woodward is etched in Hollywood history, but before Joanne, there was Jackie Witte. Jackie was Paul Newman's first wife, a fact that often escapes public awareness. Paul Newmans first wife was Jackie Witte, whom he married in 1949, and they had three children. Following their divorce, Jackie Witte chose not to enter another marriage. Jackie Witte was the first wife of Paul Newman, an American actor, director, race car driver, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
Jackie and Paul Newman's marital union lasted from 1949 to 1958. Their marriage ended in divorce due to an affair. Newman made his Broadway debut in William Inge's "Picnic" in 1953, where he met actress Joanne Woodward during rehearsals, who served as an understudy. They only stayed together until 1958, though, that is until Paul and Joanne's mutual feelings became undeniable.
Jackie Witte met Paul Newman at the age of 19, while she was still in college, and he was a navy veteran. Jackie was a tall, blonde woman with dark eyes. Their relationship was, for a long time, clandestine, because Newman was already married to Jackie Witte, and he couldnt bring himself to ask for a divorce. By 1958, Jackie Witte and Paul Newmans marriage had ended, leaving her with the delicate task of rediscovering her identity divorced from the luminary Newman had become. As movie fans share their memories of the late Paul Newman, only a select few may still recall his link to the stateline area.
Born in 1954 to Paul Leonard Newman and Jacqueline Jackie Witte as the youngest of their three children, Stephanie Newman was only a little girl when her parents divorced around early 1958. She thus didnt understand the complete seriousness of the situation until much later.
After finishing college in 1949, Paul Newman did summer stock theater in Wisconsin, where he met his first wife, actress Jacqueline Witte. Paul Newman's marriage to Jackie Witte is arguably his first public relationship. They shared three children together: Scott Newman, Susan Kendall Newman, and Stephanie Newman.
Jackie Witte's obituary has not been posted online, and the cause and place of her death has not been revealed. Though many details about her early life are unavailable, we know she had three children. She died on May 19, 1994, in New York, New York, USA, at age 64. Much like Paul, Jackie was an aspiring actress, although she first met the "Cool Hand Luke" star before his rise. Jacqueline "Jackie" Witte (McDonald) was Paul Newmans first wife. She was married to Paul Newman, and divorced on January 28, 1958, in New York City, New York County, NY.
In a time when Newman was still striving to find his footing in life, the couple married in 1949. The couple married long before Newman became a household name. They were married until Newman rose to fame, and their union ended after nine years.
Jackie Witte stands as a significant yet often overshadowed figure in American cultural history. Best known as the first wife of legendary actor Paul Newman, Jackies life story extends beyond her famous association, embodying a narrative of personal strength, independence, and quiet dignity. She was born in September 1929, in Cook County, Illinois, USA. Jackie Witte was the first wife of Paul Newman, with whom he had three children. After their divorce, Paul Newman married actress Joanne Woodward in 1958. Paul Newman's first wife was Jackie Witte. They married in 1949, long before Newman's rise to stardom.
