Actress and philanthropist Susan Kendall has died at age 72.
The daughter of the late Paul Newman and his first wife Jackie Witte, Kendall passed away on Aug. 2 from complications from chronic health conditions, per an obituary posted Oct. 7 in The New York Times.
Kendall was a prolific television producer, earning a Golden Globe and Humanitas Award, plus nominations for the Emmy, Peabody and Grammy Awards, for her work on the Newman-directed 1980 ABC Theatre production of Michael Cristopfer’s play The Shadow Box starring Joanne Woodward and Christopher Plummer.
She also produced a family-friendly audiobook series of classical literature for Simon & Schuster, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for Children.
As an actress, Kendall made her Broadway debut in the short-lived 1975 play We Interrupt This Program… She collaborated with her father onscreen in 1977’s Slap Shot, and played a teen fan in Robert Zemeckis’ 1978 Beatles movie I Wanna Hold Your Hand. She also appeared in the 1978 Robert Altman movie A Wedding.
As a philanthropist, Kendall served in multiple leadership roles with the Scott Newman Foundation, becoming an expert in drug abuse prevention. The foundation was founded by Kendall’s father following the death of her brother Scott due to a drug overdose.
Later in life, she expanded “her advocacy on education, juvenile justice, conservation, and healthcare,” per the obituary.
“She was instrumental in shaping the philanthropic strategies of a private foundation and took pride in helping identify impactful grassroots organizations, support at-risk communities often overlooked by mainstream philanthropy, and develop innovative approaches to disaster relief through local endowments,” it concludes. “Susan Kendall Newman will be remembered for her sharp wit and tongue, generosity and love, and her devotion to family and friends.”