Road to Perdition, an untypical gangster movie, also boasts an untypical actor among its stars. Paul Newman’s status is beyond the "A-list." He’s a real icon.

Ask Newman how he feels about that word and he replies, "People say I'm an icon. I don't. My grandchild does not think I'm an icon."

Since his first 1953 stage role in Picnic, acting has made the 77-year old Newman a household name. He’s had eight Academy Award nominations and won an Oscar in 1959 for his role in The Color of Money.

Although he studied theatre at Yale, Newman credits the New York Actor's Studio with fine-tuning his craft. "Almost everything that I learned about being an actor came from those early years at the actor's studio," he said. "There's not a performance that I can look at until after the late '70s with any sense of satisfaction."

While fans have found their own gratification watching Newman’s performances (and, of course, admiring those baby blues), the acclaimed Oscar-winner has also earned respect for his passion in auto racing and his philanthropic endeavors. All the proceeds of Newman’s Own pasta sauces and salad dressings – which he talks about with almost every breath – go to charity. He is devoted to the Scott Newman Center, named for his late son and the Hole-In-The Wall Gang Camp, which provides a fun-filled environment for seriously ill children. In 1994 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science presented Newman with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Does Newman feel charity is a responsibility? "This is not a celebrity issue. This is a political issue and the concept that a person who has a lot, holds his hand out to someone who has less. I am confounded at the stinginess of some institutions and some people. Aristotle said, ‘The greatest government is the government that has the least number of people on each end.’ So, I don't think that there's anything exceptional or noble in being philanthropic. It's the other attitude that confuses me."

Road to Perdition is not about explosions and blood baths. Instead, it’s a relationship movie about fathers and sons. Newman admitted the role caused him to reflect on his own relationships with his father and his only son who passed away in the 70s. "The loss was a long time ago. I don’t think about it a lot, but it obviously has impacted me in other ways."

Newman’s father sold sporting goods during the depression. "He came to Chicago and got $100,000 dollars worth of goods from both Spalding and Wilson and consigned them. Those companies knew that if he sold a baseball glove for $4.25, that there would be a check in the mail for Spalding or Wilson for $2.18, which they were entitled to. I learned a lot from that. He survived because his reputation was impeccable."

During the filming of Perdition rumors abounded that this would be Newman’s swan song. His response, "No, it's probably closer to a vulture than a swan song. I keep trying to retire from everything and discovered I've retired from absolutely nothing. I was going to get out of the racing business, and I'm back in the racing business. I was going to let somebody else handle all the spaghetti sauce, and I'm back in the spaghetti sauce. I just finished the first play that I've done in 35 years, which is like sticking a rifle in your mouth. So, I don't seem to be able to retire."

The play he’s doing is for his wife of over 40 years, Joanne Woodward, a noted actress and artistic director of the Westport Country Playhouse. And Newman’s future?

"I'd love to do a film with Joanne, and we're looking at something down the pike. I can't really discuss it right now. But there' s still a little vinegar left in the old dog yet," said Newman with a puppy-like twinkle in his famous baby blues.