Paul Newman's Longtime Friend Says Actor Has Cancer

Paul Newman does indeed have cancer, his longtime friend, neighbor and business partner said Wednesday.

Writer A.E. Hotchner, who was one of the original partners in Newman's line of salad dressings (which was launched back in the 1980s) said that Newman told him that he had cancer 18 months ago. The 83-year-old actor didn't specify what type of cancer, but added that he was receiving treatments for it.

"I know that it's a form of cancer," Hotchner told the Associated Press. "It's a form of cancer and he's dealing with it."

Hotchner's revelation comes a day after Newman released a statement that said he was "doing nicely," clearly avoiding question about reports that surfaced saying he was terminally ill with lung cancer.

The speculation regarding the screen legend's health began last month when multiple pictures surfaced of Newman at the Indianapolis 500. It appeared that he had lost a great deal of weight and, generally speaking, didn't look healthy. The photograph where Newman's poor health became the most apparent was with Martha Stewart, which she posted on her blog on June 6.

Newman was at the racetrack to support his Hole in the Wall gang charity, which holds camps for terminally ill children.