Hollywood A-listers pay tribute to Paul Newman

Washington, Sept 30 : Hollywood stars like Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis are set to pay poignant tribute to the legendary star Paul Newman at a benefit gala.

Newman passed away on September 26 after longed cancer battle. He was 83.

The list of stars also includes that Sean Penn, Jack Nicholson, Danny Devito, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Billy Crystal.

The stars would be seen performing at the late actor's California kids camp The Painted Turtle' on October 27.

They will perform a stage reading of 'The World of Nick Adams', an adaptation of a number of Ernest Hemingway's autobiographical stories, written by Newman's longtime friend A.E. Hotchner.

Actress-turned-talk show Whoopi Goldberg revealed that Newman was her 'guardian angel'.

The 52-year-old star recalled how Newman watched over her during two health scares - and she remains eternally grateful.

"He was one of the best people I've ever known. I got very sick 15 or 20 years ago, to the point when I almost died. I was in a coma, and when I woke up, sitting on the windowsill in my hospital room was Paul Newman. I thought to myself, 'am I dead'?" she said.

While re collecting the second time Newman came to her rescue she said, "When he first introduced the Newman's Own Lemonade, the catchline was 'it restores virginity'. We did a photoshoot with him holding the lemonade and me standing by a pool of water.

"After the shoot we went to dinner, then I went home and got very sick at the hotel. They took me to the hospital and he wouldn't leave until he knew I was OK.

"I'm going to celebrate his passing - he was a great man."

ANI