Gene Hackman, a towering figure in American cinema, has passed away at the age of 95, alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, in their Santa Fe home.
With a career spanning over four decades and over 70 movies, Hackman delivered a host of unforgettable performances that left an indelible mark on generations of moviegoers.
Whether playing drama or comedy, Hackman's versatility and depth brought to life a wide array of characters across any number of iconic films... To celebrate his legacy, we pick five essential titles.
1. The French Connection (1971)
In William Friedkin's gritty crime thriller, Hackman portrays Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, a relentless New York City narcotics detective on a mission to dismantle a French drug-smuggling operation. Hackman's intense performance made him a star overnight and earned his first Oscar for Best Actor, solidifying his status as an unlikely leading man in Hollywood during the golden age of the '70s. Remembered for its raw (at times brutal) depiction of law enforcement and one of cinema's most exhilarating car chase sequences, Hackman's towering portrayal of one of cinema's great anti-heroes remains a thing of beauty indeed - he'd return for a sequel, the underrated French Connection II (1975).
2. Unforgiven (1992)
Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, this Oscar-laden revisionist Western features Hackman as Little Bill Daggett, the hard-nosed and morally complex (a Hackman specialty) sheriff of Big Whiskey, Wyoming. Hackman's portrayal of a man who maintains order through ruthless means, earned him his second Academy Award, this time for for Best Supporting Actor. Eastwood's masterpiece delves into themes of redemption, justice, and the blurred lines between heroism and villainy, with Hackman's performance providing an anchor to the narrative's moral ambiguities. Also, he gets a great last line.
3. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
In Wes Anderson's quirky ensemble dramedy, Hackman positively sparkles as Royal Tenenbaum, the estranged (and lovably unlovable) patriarch of a family of former child prodigies. Attempting to reconnect with his dysfunctional family by feigning a terminal illness, Hackman infuses Royal with a blend of charm, wit, and an underlying vulnerability. Three years later, he'd call it quits, and remained retired from the screen for the rest of his days - this serves as the perfect swansong to an extraordinary career.
4. Scarecrow (1973)
We had to include at least one deep cut - this underseen gem pairs Hackman with Al Pacino as two aimless drifters, Max and Lion, who form an unlikely friendship while traversing the American hinterlands. A big favourite of Irish Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy, and a Best Film winner at Cannes, Jerry Schatzberg's film remains the perfect showcase for two titans of American acting at the absolute height of their powers - track it down if you can, along with other unsung Hackman gems like Eureka, Narrow Margin and '80s sports drama Hoosiers (released in Ireland as Best Shot).
5. Young Frankenstein (1974)
In a delightful departure from his dramatic roles, Hackman makes a hilarious cameo in Mel Brooks' immortal horror comedy as Harold, a blind hermit who befriends the Monster. Despite limited screen time, he almost walks away with the movie...
Also: It's nigh upon impossible to pick just five Hackman titles - take your pick from '70s classics like disaster movie The Poseidon Adventure, comic book classic Superman and Francis Ford Coppola's classic The Conversation to '90s smashes like The Birdcage, Get Shorty and Crimson Tide - the man arguably never gave a bad performance.
