Legendary actor Paul Newman is battling cancer, his longtime friend and business partner A.E. Hotchner said Wednesday.

"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."

Late Tuesday, Newman issued a statement through his publicist, Jeff Sanderson, to say that he's "doing nicely" in response to unconfirmed reports that he had lung cancer. The statement did not, however, address questions about the cancer directly.

Newman, who starred in such film classics as "The Hustler," "Cool Hand Luke," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting," is 83.

Reports speculating his cancer appeared earlier this week on Perez Hilton's blog and a British newspaper site after Martha Stewart posted a photo of herself and Newman on her blog. The actor appeared to be thin in the photo, which was taken June 6 at a benefit for Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

Newman has generated more than $200 million for thousands of charities worldwide since 1982 with the all the profits and royalties from his "Newman's Own" brand of foods and drinks. The Hole in the Wall Gang organization provides children with cancer and other serious illnesses with camping experiences and year-round support to families.

Newman was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 1986 for his "compelling screen performances, his personal dignity and dedication to his craft" before winning his first Best Actor Oscar for the 1987 film "The Color of Money." Starring opposite Tom Cruise, Newman reprised his Best Actor Oscar-nominated role of "Fast Eddie" Felson from "The Hustler."

The actor also was nominated for Best Actor for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Hud," "Cool Hand Luke," "Absence of Malice," "The Verdict" and "Nobody's Fool."

Newman also earned an Oscar nomination for producing the 1968 film "Rachel, Rachel," and a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for "Road to Perdition."

Most recently, Newman voiced a reclusive race car champion in the computer-animated hit "Cars."
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