Who voiced Doc Hudson in Pixar's 2006 film Cars?

Paul Newman voiced Doc Hudson in Pixar's 2006 film Cars.

Doc Hudson is Radiator Springs' town doctor and a former racing champion known as the Hudson Hornet. He initially appears to be a quiet local judge, but the film reveals that he was once a celebrated Piston Cup racer before a crash ended his career.

Newman was himself a famous actor and an accomplished racing enthusiast. His participation gave Doc Hudson a particularly fitting voice, connecting the character's fictional racing history with Newman's real interest in motorsport. Doc's racing number is 51, matching the year of Newman's birth and the model year associated with the Hudson Hornet character.

Cars was Newman's final feature-film acting role. He died in 2008, so Doc Hudson does not appear as a speaking character in Cars 2. The character is honored in Cars 3 through memories, archival material, and the continuing influence he had on Lightning McQueen.