Hackman, Gene (1931-…), is an American actor known for his strong performances in motion-picture character roles. He won the 1971 Academy Award as best actor for The French Connection. He received the 1992 Academy Award as best supporting actor for Unforgiven.
Eugene Alden Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California, on Jan. 30, 1931, and raised in Danville, Illinois. He quit school at the age of 16 and served six years in the Marine Corps. He held a variety of jobs until his early 30’s, when he decided to fulfill a personal dream by becoming an actor. Hackman went to the acting school of the Pasadena Playhouse in California and later played a number of small roles on the stage and on television. He got his first break on the stage when he appeared in the Broadway comedy hit Any Wednesday (1964). Hackman had made his motion-picture debut in a small role in Mad Dog Coll in 1961. He received his first recognition in the gangster film Bonnie and Clyde (1967). His performance as hard-boiled police detective Popeye Doyle in The French Connection made him a star.
Hackman’s other significant films include I Never Sang for My Father (1970), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The Conversation (1974), The French Connection II (1975), Superman (1978), Superman II (1981), Hoosiers (1986), Superman IV (1987), Mississippi Burning (1988), The Firm (1993), Crimson Tide (1995), Get Shorty (1995), The Birdcage (1996), The Chamber (1996), Twilight (1998), Enemy of the State (1998), The Replacements (2000), Heist (2001), Runaway Jury (2003), and Welcome to Mooseport (2004). Hackman has also written two novels with Daniel Lenihan, Wake of the Perdido Star (1999) and Justice for None (2004).
