Robert Redford vs Paul Newman: The Outrageous Porsche Prank War That Shook Hollywood
A wrecked Porsche lit the fuse on one of Hollywood’s greatest prank wars, as co-stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman escalated a hilariously ruthless battle of one-upmanship that became legend.
We lost Robert Redford this week at 89. Tough one. If you want a story that nails the Redford-Paul Newman dynamic - cool, competitive, and a little bit chaotic - here is a perfect one about a Porsche, a prank war, and two legends who refused to blink.
The Porsche prank that never ended
Both guys were hardcore car nuts. Redford always said he was the one who pushed Newman toward racecar driving, which he later admitted kind of backfired, because every time they hung out after that, Newman only wanted to talk about cars. So, Redford cooked up a birthday surprise that was equal parts petty and perfect.
For Newman's 50th, Redford told a towing company to deliver a truly wrecked Porsche to Newman's place - wrapped like a gift, ribbon and all - and park it on his back porch. This is Redford at maximum deadpan: a totaled sports car as a birthday present for the guy who cannot stop talking about cars.
Newman, of course, refused to acknowledge it. Not a word. Weeks go by. Then Redford walks into his rented place in Westport, Connecticut and finds a massive wooden crate sitting in the foyer. It takes him about an hour and a half with a crowbar to get it open. Inside: a solid square block of metal. Newman had the Porsche baled into a cube and shipped it right back.
Redford, amused, phones a sculptor friend, then calls the towing guys and sends the metal cube back to Newman again - this time as garden decor. Even the delivery crew was rooting for the bit to keep going.
"And to this day, neither Paul nor I ever spoke about it."
That line comes from Redford telling the tale in a 2014 chat with Maureen Dowd. Peak Redford-Newman: a private joke that never needed commentary. Just moves and countermoves.
Newman passed in 2008 at 83. Redford at 89 this week. If there is a sequel to that prank war, I hope it involves valet tickets and a very confused afterlife parking attendant.
- They only made two films together - still wild given their status as an all-time duo: 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' and 'The Sting'.