With a career spanning over six decades, Hackman became an icon despite his distaste for fame and his preference for solitude.
Gene Hackman, the legendary actor known for his diverse range of roles, has passed away at the age of 95. Best remembered as the notorious Lex Luthor in Superman, Hackman’s career transcended mere celebrity, as he skillfully portrayed villains, heroes, and antiheroes across genres. Despite his global fame, Hackman famously avoided the trappings of Hollywood, expressing a discomfort with his own films, which he once described as giving him an “icky feeling.”
Born Eugene Allen Hackman in 1930 in California, his acting journey began with a modest TV role in 1961. Hackman would go on to star in more than 80 films, earning multiple Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes. His breakthrough came in 1967 with Bonnie and Clyde, and by 1971, he won his first Oscar for his portrayal of detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection. Two decades later, he claimed his second Oscar for his role in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.
Despite his accolades, Hackman preferred a life of solitude, retiring from acting in 2004 to focus on writing. He published three historical novels, a pursuit that allowed him to embrace the privacy and control he craved.
Hackman’s career also included standout performances in films such as The Conversation, Mississippi Burning, Crimson Tide, Get Shorty, and The Royal Tenenbaums. His comedy and drama skills were equally respected, as demonstrated by his memorable cameo in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein.
Hackman, who served in the Marine Corps before turning to acting, enjoyed working alongside Hollywood giants like Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, and Faye Dunaway. His final film role was in Welcome to Mooseport (2004), a political satire, after which he retired from the screen.
A man who shunned the limelight, Hackman’s lasting legacy lies in his unparalleled ability to inhabit any character. He is survived by his three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese.
