Gene Hackman, a revered Oscar-winning actor whose diverse roles earned him immense respect in the industry, has been discovered dead along with his wife at their residence. He was 95 years old.
Gaining prominence in Hollywood, Hackman’s career spanned from the 1960s until his retirement. His extensive filmography includes Academy Award-winning films like “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven.” He also made a notable impact with his breakthrough performance in “Bonnie and Clyde,” embraced comedic roles in “Young Frankenstein,” portrayed the infamous Lex Luthor in “Superman,” and headlined Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums” in 2001.
Hackman showed great adaptability for any role he approached, whether depicting an uptight character in “Birdcage,” a redemptive college coach in “Hoosiers,” or a mysterious surveillance expert in “The Conversation” directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola expressed admiration for Hackman on Instagram, stating, “Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity,” while mourning his loss and celebrating his contributions.
Despite his reluctance for the celebrity lifestyle, Hackman earned a revered spot in the Hollywood landscape as a humble, everyman actor. Known for his work rather than his personal life, Hackman appeared sparingly at social events and voiced his disapproval of the business aspect of acting. He once shared with Film Comment in 1988 about actors being shy, confrontational individuals, choosing acting to escape hostility and express themselves positively.
Starting his acting journey later in life, Hackman was viewed as an early retiree. His late-career boom began at age 35 with “Bonnie and Clyde.” He won his first Oscar over 40, portraying New York detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection,” a crime thriller set in the drug-laden streets of Manhattan.
Originally deemed a minor star, Hackman was selected over more flamboyant contenders like Steve McQueen and Jackie Gleason for the role of Doyle. Although he initially doubted his casting, assisting in night patrols brought him assurance. Notably, one of the first demanding scenes required Hackman to bring forth intensity by slapping a suspect—a scene perfected after 37 takes at the director’s insistence.
Hackman’s most heralded scene, a real and dangerous car chase, presented him as Detective Doyle racing under elevated subway tracks without official permits, leading to a genuine collision with a non-participant car.
While initially declining the role of Little Bill Daggett in “Unforgiven,” Hackman accepted after realizing Eastwood’s intention to critique rather than glorify violence in his Western film, thus winning another Academy Award for his supporting role. He also embraced the role of Lex Luthor in “Superman” alongside Christopher Reeve, establishing a prototype for later superhero films.
Born Eugene Allen Hackman in San Bernardino, California, his upbringing in Danville, Illinois, was marked by familial disturbances. His father’s abusive outbursts led his father to leave when Gene was 13, leaving a lasting scar. His mother struggled with alcoholism, and Hackman’s refuge in cinema influenced his growing aspirations. Entering the U.S. Marines at 16, Hackman’s early attempts at a career led him to discover a passion for performance.
Studying journalism post-military in Illinois didn’t deter his ambitions, prompting him to pursue radio before finding his true calling in acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. His nomadic professional journey laid the foundation for his notable on-screen presence that caught the eye of producers.
Acknowledgment for Hackman began with theater, leading to small film roles and television appearances in the early ’60s. Warren Beatty’s memory of Hackman during “Bonnie and Clyde” casting brought forth the actor’s acclaimed performance as portrayed bank robber Clyde Barrow’s brother, leading his first Academy Award nomination.
While almost cast in “The Graduate” and the television hit “The Brady Bunch,” Hackman’s first leading film role came in 1970’s “I Never Sang for My Father,” exploring fraught paternal themes that resonated with his own experiences.
Throughout his career, Hackman maintained diligence, starring in numerous productions regardless of quality. With relentless work in 2001, Hackman’s oeuvre included “The Mexican,” “Heartbreakers,” “Heist,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and “Behind Enemy Lines.” By 2004, Hackman had begun discussing retirement, with a final credit for narrating a Smithsonian Channel documentary.
Hackman’s personal life included his first marriage to Fay Maltese, with whom he had three children before divorcing in the mid-1980s. He remarried Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist, in 1991. Outside acting, Hackman favored pastimes like painting and racing, choosing eventually to write novels while enjoying the serene vistas of his Santa Fe ranch—a view prioritizing over revisiting his cinematic ventures.
