Gene Hackman: A life and career in pictures
At the beginning of his career, Gene Hackman was voted ‘least likely to succeed’ while studying at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. This might deter some people, but Hackman used this to fuel the fire and motivate his journey to success, moving to New York City and pursuing a career as an actor.
It’s the city of dreams for many people, but Hackman only continued to be met with rejections and setbacks, being told by an acting coach that he ‘wouldn’t amount to anything’. However, Hackman rose above the obstacles and lacked faith in his talent, becoming one of the most prolific and committed actors of his generation.
After starting out with supporting roles in the theatre and television scene, the actor eventually found himself leading Broadway plays and working his way up to appearing on the silver screen. However, while his name was slowly sweeping through the industry, it wasn’t until his performance in Bonnie and Clyde that he truly began to break into the industry, earning him an Academy Award nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actor’.
The 1967 film, directed by Arthur Penn, is synonymous with the New Hollywood movement and a breakthrough era in the film industry as independent and arthouse directors started to take over. Hackman’s performance in this film was vital in redefining the types of projects that were made during this time, with his character reaching the hearts of audiences around the world and setting a new precedent for the medium.
From this point onwards, Hackman began the climb towards global fame, but it wasn’t until 1970 that his career reached new heights after his performance in I Never Sang For My Father and then The French Connection in 1971, winning the coveted Academy Award for ‘Best Actor’. His performance as Jimmy Doyle is now one of his most revered roles of all time.
After the critical acclaim for both films, Hackman had the pick of the bunch, starring in films such as Scarecrow (with fellow acting titan Al Pacino), The Poseidon Adventure and finally, The Conversation in 1974, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Hackman gives a chilling performance as a weathered private detective in what might be Coppola’s most experimental film, later winning the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
From there, the actor then starred in films like Young Frankenstein, a surprising curveball in his career in one of his most famous comedic roles, Night Moves and then Superman: The Movie.
At the height of his career, Hackman always demonstrated versatility and a meticulous approach to his craft, leading to complex and nuanced performances that contained conflicting emotional depths. He became one of the most sought-after actors of his generation, bringing vitality to all of his characters and instantly elevating the weight of any project. His filmography defined the boundary-breaking work of a new artistic movement in the film industry, with the effects of his legacy still being felt today.
In his personal life, the actor was married twice, with one son and two daughters from his first marriage to Faye Maltese. After thirty years of marriage, the couple divorced, and Hackman later married Betsy Arakawa, who remained together until their tragic passing.
Below, enjoy a run of images from the actor’s truly brilliant career in Hollywood.
