Lex Luthor, Popeye Doyle, Buck Barrow, Royal Tenenbaums and many more. The man behind all these characters is “Gene Hackman”. Born as Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman, he is among the world's most acclaimed actors. For over 45 years, he has been delivering unforgettable performances in film, theater, and television. Gene Hackman made his name playing tough guys, spies, and smooth villains. Comfortable in both leading and supporting roles, Hackman is a director’s actor and an audience favorite. 

 

After having led a tension filled childhood and family life, Hackman moved out at the age of 16 and enlisted in the Marines for a four year hitch. After his discharge, he studied journalism and TV production at the University of Illinois on the GI Bill. Hackman moved to New York and supported himself through a succession of odd jobs.

Like many young actors, Hackman initially started off as a theater actor in numerous summer stock, regional, and improvisational theater productions.To pursue his dream to become an actor, he joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California in 1956. He along with Dustin Hoffman were voted "the least likely to succeed" by his classmates.  Nonetheless, proving everyone wrong, this remarkably prolific and versatile talent, established himself  as one among the most respected and well-liked stars of his era.

Gene Hackman, an extremely creative film actor, has acclaimed TV shows like The Invaders to his credit which gave Hackman valuable early experience and opened gates to filmdom. Today, his television work is limited to narration and voiceovers.

His first important film appearance was in Lilith (1964). Impressed by the novice film actor's performance, Beatty cast Hackman as Buck Barrow, in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). Directed by Arthur Penn, the film became a 1960s landmark that provided a breakthrough role for Hackman, netting him his first Oscar nomination (for Best Supporting Actor). He was nominated in the same category in 1970 for I Never Sang for My Father. Hackman became a full-fledged star with his performance in William Friedkin's blockbuster police drama, The French Connection (1971), etching an indelible portrait of the tough narcotics cop Popeye Doyle and winning the Best Actor Oscar in the process.  In 1992 Unforgiven directed by Clint Eastwood, earned him a second Oscar, for Best Supporting Actor.

 

 

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!

 

Hackman has displayed a remarkable range over the course of his brilliant career, as evidenced by his roles in the films The Conversation, Poseidon Adventure, Superman,  Hoosiers, Unforgiven, Get Shorty,  Enemy of the State and The Royal Tenenbaums to name a few. Now retired from his acting career, Hackman's last film to hit the screen was Welcome to Mooseport.  

He has been nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two; Hackman has also won three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs in his career that spanned four decades. 

Also, along with undersea archaeologist Daniel Lenihan he has co-authored three novels, Wake of the Perdido Star (1999), Justice for None (2004), and Escape from Andersonville (2008).