Recalling the Porsche prank played by Robert Redford and Paul Newman.

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      Robert Redford, an iconic actor, director, and activist, has passed away at his home in Utah at the age of 89. While numerous obituaries are available on entertainment websites and mainstream media today, we’d like to honor him by sharing a charming story about him and his longtime friend Paul Newman, who played pranks on each other over several years involving an undriveable Porsche.

      Paul Newman was well-known for his serious passion for racing for many years. His interest in driving reportedly began at a Bondurant driving school. Following that experience, he talked about cars so often that his friend Redford, who spent a lot of time with him both on and off the set, started to get annoyed. On Newman’s 50th birthday, Redford decided to present him with a wrecked Porsche, complete with a gift bow, delivered to his home.

      Unfortunately, I couldn't find the exact year or model of the car; that detail wasn't included in any of the accounts I've discovered online. (Some sources mention the car being “found in Connecticut,” but that's the only specific detail I've noted about the Porsche).

      Redford had a passion for cars as well. His 1964 Porsche 904 GTS fetched a seven-figure price at a Bonhams auction in Paris a few years back.

      Redford's 904. This was certainly not the vehicle that was crushed. Bonhams

      Redford shared how the prank unfolded in interviews following Newman’s death in 2008. Here's a passage from an Observer article elaborating on it:

      “Mostly I’ll miss the fun we had. We pulled a lot of pranks on each other. I used to race cars, and after he took a spin in this rare Porsche I had, he became interested in racing. He had amazing reflexes and got quite good at it, but he talked about it so much that I got tired of hearing it. So, for his 50th birthday, I arranged for a battered Porsche shell to be delivered to his porch. He never mentioned it, but soon after, I received a crate of molten metal at my (rented) house. It left a dent in the floor. I then created a really unattractive sculpture from it and placed it in his garden. To this day, neither of us has ever brought it up.”

      I wonder what became of that sculpture?

      If you're seeking a classic Redford film to watch, I highly recommend Jeremiah Johnson, especially as the weather begins to cool. Of course, you could spend weeks appreciating his extensive filmography, as he was incredibly prolific. Rest in peace, Mr. Redford.

      Do you have any movie recommendations featuring Robert Redford? Feel free to share them in the comments or email me at [email protected].