BEIJING, June 12 -- Oscar-winning actor Paul Newman, responding to a flurry of unconfirmed reports he is gravely ill with cancer, issued a terse, cryptic statement on Tuesday that shed little light on his actual condition. "Newman says he's doing nicely," his spokesman, Jeff Sanderson was quoted as saying.

Sanderson declined to elaborate or give further details.

"This is what I got from him. He says he's doing nicely, and this is the statement I wanted to share with you, and that's what I have," Sanderson said. "I spoke to his office. ... this is the statement that came directly from him."

According to numerous media accounts circulating on TV and the Internet since Monday, Newman, 83, has been diagnosed with lung cancer and was undergoing out-patient treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

File photo of Paul Newman

A spokeswoman for Sloan-Kettering said she had no information about whether Newman was a patient there.

Newman announced just over a year ago he was essentially retiring from a half-century career in acting because of his age.

Last month, he stepped down as director of a stage production of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" at the Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut, citing unspecified health issues.

Newman's wife of more than 50 years, actress Joanne Woodward, is a co-artistic director of the playhouse.

【娱乐英语资讯：Paul Newman responds cryptically to cancer reports】相关文章：

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Cindy Crawford will never pose nude again

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Madonna link? Report says Rodriguez, wife split up

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Jolie, Pitt officially adopt Pax Thien

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Kylie emerges with a new single and dazzling make-over

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Jessica Albas words of wisdom for young girls in love

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Hollywood studios to resume contract talks with major actors union

★ 娱乐英语资讯：New curvier Nicole Richies beach life

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Jury: Playboy model Nicoles son dies of drug overdose

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Paris Hiltons potential inheritance dramatically diminished

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Greys Anatomy actress Heigl marries in Utah