Gene Hackman: Summary

Recent Role:: on Coming Attractions

Gender:: Female

Birthday:: 1-30-1930

Birthplace:: San Bernadino, California, USA

Birth Name:: Eugene Alden Hackman

Personal Information

Eugene Alden Hackman is the elder son of Eugene Ezra Hackman and Lyda Gray Hackman. He was twelve when his younger brother, Richard, was born, and a year later, his parents divorced. He wed Fay Maltese on 1 January 1956, and by 1963, they had a daughter, Elizabeth, and a son, Christopher (b. 1960). Another daughter, Leslie, followed later. They divorced in 1986, and in December of 1991, Gene wed Betsy Arakawa, and the two have been together since.

When he was 16, Hackman lied about his age to join the Marines. He soon realised it wasn't the right choice for him, but he stuck ou his three year tour before leaving. He then moved to the city, where he decided to try his hand at acting. His first love has always been live theater, but he has always excelled on the big screen. He attended the Pasadena Playhouse, where he and was voted Least Likely to Succeed along with younger classmate Dustin Hoffman. The first few years in Hollywood, he, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert Duvall were great friends. In the 1990s, he did TV commercials for both United Airlines and the Oppenheimer Funds, and in 1999, also lent his voice to a radio commercial for CNN. He also co-authored Wake of the Perdido Sea with Jack Lenihan.

Trivia

Hackman was the first choice to play Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch. The role eventually went to Robert Reed.
Hackman was the first choice to play Hannibal Lector in The Silence of the Lambs. The role eventually went to Anthony Hopkins.
Hackman was offered the chance to direct The Silence of the Lambs. That job was later filled by Jonathan Demme.
Hackman was offered the role of President Franklin Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor. The role eventually went to Jon Voight.
Hackman was the sixth choice to play Popeye in The French Connection. The film won him his first Academy Award.

Awards History

Academy Awards: Nominated in 1968 (supporting actor, for Bonnie and Clyde), 1971 (supporting actor, for I Never Sang for My Father), 1972 (lead actor, for The French Connection), 1989 (lead actor, for Mississippi Burning), and 1992 (supporting actor, for Unforgiven). He won in both 1972 and 1992.
American Film Institute: Won in 2001 (supporting actor, for The Royal Tennenbaums).
Blockbuster Entertainment: Won in 1997 (for The Birdcage), nominated in 1999 (for Enemy of the State).
British Academy of Film and Television: Nominated seven times, won twice in 1973 and once in 1993.
Golden Globes: Nominated eight times, won in 1972, 1993 and 2001 (supporting actor, for The Royal Tennenbaums).
Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Won in 1992 (for Unforgiven).
National Board of Review: Won in 1971, 1974, and 1988.
National Society of Film Critics: Won in 1968 and 1993.
New York Film Critics Circle: Won in 1971 and 1992.

Personal Information

Eugene Alden Hackman is the elder son of Eugene Ezra Hackman and Lyda Gray Hackman. He was twelve when his younger brother, Richard, was born, and a year later, his parents divorced. He wed Fay Maltese on 1 January 1956, and by 1963, they had a daughter, Elizabeth, and a son, Christopher (b. 1960). Another daughter, Leslie,...

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- 09/18/06 3:20 PM
- 1 comments \ add yours

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NoOneIsAlone
member since: Oct 17, 2006
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Gene Hackman is one of the greatest actors of his generation. Too bad that he is not really into roles any more, but the fact is that he is surely one of the best actors I had the pleasure to watch. I love him in Get Shorty, and when he acts you can surely see that his acting its quite above average.
02/04/08 08:24pm | report abuse
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smackauf
member since: Dec 30, 2007
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I could watch him for hours...my family puts up with my Gene Hackman-a-thon movie marathons... He is amazing...when I was a teenager and my friends were drooling over Christopher Reeves in the superman movies...I was drooling over Gene Hackman
12/29/07 12:32pm | report abuse
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amauriel
member since: Jun 3, 2005
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Gene Hackman is a true actor. You really believe that he got into acting because he loves it for what it is. You'll never see him in any tabloids and you won't hear any gossip about him. In his roles, you sense more realism than many other actor's who are considered more talented than he. Of all of his roles in all of his movies, my favorite has to be "Enemy of the State."
02/17/07 01:10pm | report abuse
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JUSTAFANOFTV
member since: Sep 17, 2005
Personally one of my heroes and favorite actors. ...Continue »
There's something about Gene Hackman that makes you want to watch his movies or know more about him,it's probably because he stays in the shadows and I respect that because I would do the same thing in his shoes,it's also a good actor move.I like his background story not also is it interesting and insightful,but it is a little encouraging because it shows us there's still some hope left,even if some of us aren't educationally gifted or live in a broken home.What makes him one of my heroes is because I have seen all the adversities he's gone through,to me he's truly an inspiration.See his biography at www.IMDB.com or if you ever come across a interview with him on a show,which is pretty rare.If you don't know why he's such a phenomenal actor go see "Unforgiven".Man,were running out of wise people like this in the world.
06/05/06 07:42pm | report abuse