Born in Logan, Utah. Entered American film as an uncredited assistant director for Gregory La Cava's GABRIEL OVER THE WHITE HOUSE (1932) at MGM. Over the next four years, he worked as an uncredited a.d. on 14 more films at the studio, including THE MERRY WIDOW (1934), DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935), ROSE-MARIE and SAN FRANCISCO (both 1936) and MAYTIME (1937). In 1938, Newman started to direct shorts for MGM (credited as Joe Newman), including several of the "Crime Does Not Pay" series. In 1941, he was an uncredited second unit director for TARZAN'S SECRET TREASURE, and in 1942 he got to direct the western feature NORTHWEST RANGERS as Joseph Newman. Other feature directing credits include JUNGLE PATROL (1948), ABANDONED and THE GREAT DAN PATCH (both 1949), 711 OCEAN DRIVE (1950), LOVE NEST (1951), RED SKIES OF MONTANA and THE OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT (both 1952), DANGEROUS CROSSING (1953), THE HUMAN JUNGLE (1954) and THIS ISLAND EARTH and KISS OF FIRE (both 1955). Newman began to direct for television in the mid-1950s: "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse," 4 episodes of "The Twilight Zone," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" and "The Big Valley." He also directed the occasional feature, as well as writing, producing and directing FLIGHT TO HONG KONG (1956). He appeared on the 2002 TCM documentary "Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story."    Nominated for Assistant Director 1935: DAVID COPPERFIELD    Nominated for Assistant Director 1936: SAN FRANCISCO 2 nominations