(June 11, 2008)--A neighbor and business partner says veteran actor Paul Newman has cancer.
Writer A.E. Hotcher says Newman told him 18 months ago that he was ill.
Recent photos of the 83-year-old movie legend appear to show that he has lost weight.
Newman did not address his illness in a statement released Tuesday, saying only that he was "doing nicely."
Friends say the actor is doing well.
Actor James Naughton, who spoke with Newman on Monday, says he "is feeling quite well."
Naughton says Newman seems to have controlled an infection he had over the winter.
Newman's racing team partner Michael Brockman says the acting legend "looks great" and is "doing better than he was."
Questions were raised about Newman's health after it was announced he would not direct "Of Mice and Men" this fall at Connecticut's Westport Country Playhouse.
There were unconfirmed reports that he has lung cancer.