Paul Newman today reacted to a rash of internet and television stories that he has lung cancer by telling the world he is "doing nicely".

The American actor, 83, issued the short statement through his publicist, Jeff Sanderson. No further details were given.

Media reports began circulating on Monday that the actor was undergoing out-patient treatment at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. They have not been confirmed.

Shawn Levy, an American film critic who has been writing a biography of the actor, said in a post on his blog Tuesday that Newman's "next birthday is in January, and we can only hope he'll make it. I suspect I'll be writing an obituary before I hold a copy of my book in my hand."

Newman announced his retirement from acting in May of 2007, citing his age as the reason. "You start to lose your memory, you start to lose your confidence, you start to lose your invention...I think that's pretty much a closed book for me," he told ABC News at the time.

The award-winning actor shot to stardom in 52 years ago when he starred in Robert Wise's Rocky Graziano biopic Somebody Up There Likes Me. Two years later he landed his first of five Bafta nominations for the Tennessee Williams adaptation Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Brick Pollitt, the first of ten such nods that would span six decades.

The character of pool hall hustler Eddie Felson became one of Newman's most defining portrayals. He followed up 1962's The Hustler 24 years later with a sequel, The Color of Money. He won the Bafta for the former and the Oscar for the latter.

Most audiences, however, remember him as the cool-headed outlaw Butch Cassidy in George Roy Hill's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Newman's most recent performance was in 2006, providing voiceover work in Disney/Pixar's Cars.

The actor has also built a vast entrepreneurial empire via his Newman's Own food line, which has yielded $200 million (£100 million) in charitable proceeds. Additionally, he is a partner in two US motorsports teams.

Newman lives in Connecticutt with the actor Joanne Woodward, his wife of 50 years.

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