Newman's rep: Actor not dying of cancer

LOS ANGELES, June 11 (UPI) -- Paul Newman's agent said media reports that the 83-year-old Hollywood actor is dying of lung cancer are not true.

Newman's agent Toni Howard denied the rumors to E! News.

The actor's spokesman, Jeff Sanderson, said in a separate statement that he spoke to Newman and "he's doing nicely."

Rumors about Newman's health started swirling after Newman said he wouldn't go ahead with plans to direct a production of "Our Town" at the playhouse in his hometown of Westport, Conn., due to an unspecified illness, E! Online said.

Newman, who has been acting for half a century, has starred in dozens of films, including "Cool Hand Luke," "The Hustler" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."