« No sentimental guy » – Gene Hackman is dead
Hollywood's ideal of beauty looked different. But in the end, genes Hackman's bulbous nose, the wide chin and the early baldness of forehead became an attribute. The star of films such as « French Connection », « unforgives » and « The Royal Tenenbaums » was a sought-after character actor. Now the film world mourns the two-time Oscar winner, who died on Wednesday at the age of 95. His body was found together with his wife Betsy Arakawa on her residence. A spokeswoman for the sheriff said ABC News and CNN that the couple had been found in a social control after a neighbor reported who was concerned about the well -being of the two. The couple's dog was also found dead.
Hackman had withdrawn from Hollywood decades ago. With his second wife he lived away from the dream factory, in rural Santa Fe. At almost 75 when other actors are still in front of the camera, he retired – and found a new role: he wrote books, such as the civil war novel « Escape from Andersonville » (2008) and the police thriller « Pursuit » (2013) – and kept fit into old age.
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Shortly before his 88th birthday (in January 2018) he posed in front of a bicycle shop in Santa Fe with a new e-bike in jeans and baseball cap. What a « cool type », Instagram user commented on the photo.
Schauspiel dream as a child
His last big appearance on a Hollywood stage was a long time ago. At the 60th Golden Globe Awards in 2003, Gene Hackman was celebrated with the honorary award for his life's work. « I never wanted to be anything other than an actor, » he said visibly moved in front of the star audience. Even as a young boy, he sat with a bag of popcorn in the cinema and had Johnny Weissmuller, John Wayne, Errol Flynn and his favorite actor James Cagney put himself in other worlds.
Gene Hackman in the film « The French Connection ». With the film he made his breakthrough in 1971, and in 1972 he received the Oscar of the « Best Actor » for the role. Photo: Getty
Hackman rarely got involved in interviews, such as 2021 when the thriller « The French Connection » celebrated its 50th anniversary. With this film, the actor made his big breakthrough in 1971. At that time, Hackman came to Oscar and Golden Globe Honor as a tough drug investigator in New York- directed by William Friedkin.
On the whole, I am quite satisfied that it was the right decision to become an actor. Fortunately, I found a few things that I was able to do as an actor.
« Of course, this film helped my career and I am grateful for that, » said Hackman in 2021 of the « New York Post ». But he had no plans to look at the thriller on the occasion of the round anniversary. He only saw the film in a tiny demonstration room shortly after completion.
Difficult childhood
As the son of a printer and a waitress, Hackman grew up in a small town in the US state of Illinois. The father left the family when the young teenager was. At the age of 16 he came to the US Navy, a few years later he followed his passion for film and took acting lessons at the « Pasadena Playhouse » in California, where a young Dustin Hoffman also studied.
At that time, both were classified in the class as a student with the slightest chances of success. Together they moved to New York at the end of the 1950s, shared an apartment with Robert Duvall there, hit themselves with handlong jobs and continued to learn their acting crafts.
The performers of the film Bonnie and Clyde from 1967 posing with their pistols. From left to right: actor Gene Hackman as Buck Barrow, actress Estelle Parsons as Blanche Barrow, actor Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrow, actress Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker and actor Michael J. Pollard as CW Moss. Photo: Getty Images
Hackman played his first major role in 1964 in the « Lilith » strip with Warren Beatty, who hired him three years later for « Bonnie and Clyde ». As Clydes Gangster brother, Hackman received his first Oscar nomination as the best supporting actor.
After his breakthrough as an Oscar -winning main actor with « French Connection », the career quickly went uphill. In « Scarecrow » he plays a litterer, in « The Conversation » a paranoid listening specialist. He made it to Hollywood's A list with cash crowds such as the John Grisham film adaptation « The Firm » and « Crimson Tide ».
In « The Conversation » Gene Hackman played a paranoid listening specialist. Photo: Getty Images
In the travesty classic « The Birdcage », Hackman slipped into women's clothes. In 1989 he won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival as a FBI agent in the racism drama « Mississippi Burning ». With Dustin Hoffman he was seen in the strip « Runaway jury ».
In 1993 he celebrated a further double success in the Globes and Oscars as the best supporting actor in the western « unforgives ». Under the direction of Clint Eastwood, he played a sadistic sheriff. Hackman won his third Golden Globe as the best comedy actor in the family satire « The Royal Tenenbaums » (2001), two years later there was an honorary globe for his life's work.
No « sentimental guy »
Where he kept his Oscar trophies, Hackman was asked in 2011 in one of his rare interviews by the magazine « GQ ». « I'm not sure, » replied the actor. He hardly has any films in his house. « I'm not a sentimental guy ». Of course, he experienced ups and downs in his career, Hackman admitted in the conversation. “But on the whole I am quite satisfied that it was the right decision to become an actor. Fortunately, I found a few things that I was able to do well as an actor, ”summed up the star. He would like to remember posterity as a « decent actor ». « As someone who tried to honest things ».
