Paul Newman played clown for charity

LONDON, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Hollywood icon Paul Newman, dressed as a clown, entertained 300 sick and disabled children for a charity performance of Zippo's Circus in London.

Clad in a green bowler hat, oversized yellow shoes and a red bulbous nose, Newman, 79, admitted Thursday to being anxious before taking his spot under the Big Top as the character Butch Bolognese, Britain's Telegraph reported Friday.

"I'm not accustomed to doing this kind of stuff and I only hope people laugh at it. The chances are I could be tarred and feathered out there. I am a little nervous. But it's all for charity so I couldn't say no," Newman said.

The show benefited Britain's Children's Charities, a nonprofit aided by Newman's Own, the actor's food products company where all profits go to charity.

Newman, who said he is retired, admitted he has considered reuniting on screen with Robert Redford, his co-star in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."

"If something really special comes along I'll do it," Newman said.