Paul Newman has finished chemotherapy treatment for cancer and has told his family he wants to die at home.

The Oscar-winning star was pictured being pushed from a New York cancer hospital in a wheelchair looking thin and frail.

It was reported in America that Newman, 83, had only weeks to live and had returned home to his wife Joanne Woodward.

Frail: Paul Newman is wheeled out of hospital

'Paul didn't want to die in the hospital,' a source said. 'Joanne and his daughters are beside themselves with grief.'

The source, described as a 'close family friend' said that the star – who co-owns a motor racing team and has his own salad dressing brand – had spent the past few weeks getting his affairs in order.

It was claimed that some of Newman's actions had caused tension among of his children.

'He gave a prized car – a Ferrari with his racing number 82 on it – to a long-time pal,' the friend said. 'The sudden move angered his children. It's especially hard for them to come to grips with what's going on.

Movie idol: Newman in the 1950s

'The word they've been given is that he has only a few weeks to live.'

Newman married Miss Woodward in 1958 and the couple have three daughters.

It was reported last month that he had been readying their oldest child, Nell, to take over his Newman's Own salad dressings company, the profits of which are given to a charitable foundation.

He also has two daughters from his first marriage to Jackie Witte.

Newman has so far declined to comment on his condition, apart from saying he is 'doing nicely'.

Rumours about his health surfaced in January. Three months ago, he withdrew from directing a production of Of Mice and Men in his home town of Westport, Connecticut.

He was pictured leaving the Weill Cornell Medical Centre in New York, which specialises in cancer treatment, in a wheelchair on July 31.

He retired from acting in 2006 after a 50-year career that included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1971), The Hustler (1961), Hud (1963) and Cool Hand Luke (1967).

Newman was nominated for ten Oscars, winning best actor for his role in The Color of Money in 1986.