Paul Newman is alleged to have cancer in an advanced stage. An exclusive AP report claims that a friend of the actor disclosed he is battling the deadly disease. Writer A.E. Hotchner, a founding partner in Newman's Own salad dressing company, said he doesn't know what type of cancer it is, but Newman opened up about it a year and a half ago. The actor allegedly undergoes treatment.

Hotchner also told AP that Paul Newman had surgery of the thorax a while back, which might indicate he has lung cancer. People also claims that most rumors indicate Newman is undergoing outpatient treatment for lung cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, but there is no official confirmation yet.

The news was not completely unexpected. Rumors about his ill health went off after officials at Connecticut's Westport Country Playhouse announced last month that Newman will not be directing "Of Mice and Men" this fall, as it was previously announced.

The good news is that he seems to be regaining his strength and weight, which indicates that the treatment may be going well. A few months back, he looked thin and had an unhealthy look, maybe from chemotherapy. AP also contacted Michael Brockman, Newman's racing team partner, who says he saw Newman last weekend and he looked great.

Paul Leonard Newman won an Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of "Fast" Eddie Felson in Martin Scorsese's "The Color of Money," an iconic movie released in 1986. He also won a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year - Actor following his role in The Silver Chalice (1957). He was also granted a Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1984 for Lifetime Achievement.

Newman lives with his wife Joanne Woodward in Westport, Connecticut. They have three daughters and the actor also has two daughters with his first wife, Jackie Witte. In time, he was also gifted with 8 grandchildren from his daughters.