Gene Hackman

Eugene Allen Hackman (January 30, 1930 – ) was an American actor. Considered one of the greatest actors of his generation and a paragon of the New Hollywood movement, Hackman's acting career spanned over four decades. He received several accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.

Hackman made his credited film debut in the drama ''Lilith'' (1964). He later won two Academy Awards, his first for Best Actor for his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in William Friedkin's action thriller ''The French Connection'' (1971) and his second for Best Supporting Actor for playing a villainous sheriff in Clint Eastwood's Western ''Unforgiven'' (1992). He was Oscar-nominated for playing Buck Barrow in the crime drama ''Bonnie and Clyde'' (1967), a college professor in the drama ''I Never Sang for My Father'' (1970) and an FBI agent in the historical drama ''Mississippi Burning'' (1988).

Hackman gained further fame for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in three of the ''Superman'' films from 1978 to 1987. He also acted in ''The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972), ''Scarecrow'' (1973), ''The Conversation'' (1974), ''Night Moves'' (1975), ''A Bridge Too Far'' (1977), ''Under Fire'' (1983), ''Hoosiers'' (1986), ''The Firm'' (1993), ''Wyatt Earp'' (1994), ''Crimson Tide'' (1995), ''The Quick and the Dead'' (1995), ''Get Shorty'' (1995), ''The Birdcage'' (1996), ''Absolute Power'' (1997), ''Enemy of the State'' (1998), ''The Royal Tenenbaums'' (2001), and ''Runaway Jury'' (2003). He retired from acting after starring in ''Welcome to Mooseport'' (2004), venturing into writing novels and occasionally providing narration for television documentaries until 2017.

Hackman was found dead along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, at their home in Santa Fe on February 26, 2025. He is presumed to have died of heart disease complicated by advanced Alzheimer's disease around February 18, about a week after Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Provided by Wikipedia