Paul Newman arrives at the American Ireland Fund Gala Dinner May 03, 2007 in NYC.
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CelebNews@Usmagazine.com! - Paul Newman's Friend Claims Cancer Quotes Were Misconstrued

Paul Newman's friend and neighbor, A.E. Hotchner, is denying a reports that quote him as saying the 83-year-old actor has cancer.

“I saw him last week and he seemed fine,” Hotchner told
Access Hollywood. “I have no knowledge of any diagnosis or doctors."

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Hotchner confirmed Newman has been battling the disease for 18 months.

“I know that it’s a form of cancer,” the AP quoted Hotchner as saying. “It’s a form of cancer and he’s dealing with it.”

But Hotchner told Access Hollywood his quotes were misconstrued.

“The AP misquoted me. I have no knowledge of Mr. Newman being treated for any illness,” Hotchner said.

Newman's health has been under speculation after he cancelled several appearances and appeared gaunt in a photo with Martha Stewart that ran on her Web site. Numerous outlets reported that Newman was diagnosed at Manhattan's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

"Newman says he's doing nicely," his rep said in a one-line statement to the press late Tuesday.

Last year, Newman announced he was retiring from acting.

"I'm not able to work anymore as an actor at the level I would want to," he said on Good Morning America last summer. "You start to lose your memory, your confidence, your invention. So that's pretty much a closed book for me… I've been doing it for 50 years. That's enough."

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