Gene Hackman’s life in photos, from a young navy to famous actor

Gene Hackman grows up in Illinois

Gene Hackman was born on January 30, 1930 in San Bernardino, California. From a young age he went to show business.

“Pecting was something I wanted to do since I was ten years old and saw my first movie,” he told Connoisseur 1988. “I was so caught by the action guys. (Old Hollywood star) Jimmy Cagney was my favorite.”

Hackman’s family moved to Illinois, where he grew up during the great depression.

As a 16 -year -old, Hackman dropped from high school to join the Marine Soldier and lied about his age to make the cut, per Military.com.

Gene Hackman, US Marine

Hackman served in the military for four and a half years and worked mostly as a radio operator. While he was stationed in China and Hawaii, “he was removed three times for leaving his service without permission, ‘per outlet.

Gene Hackman becomes friends with Dustin Hoffman

After leaving the service in 1951, Hackman studied in Illinois and New York and worked odd jobs along the way, per Biography.com.

During this time, Hackman undertook to act and joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California at the age of 22. While he became fast friends with Dustin Hoffman when the two were voted “least likely” to succeed Connoisseur.

Gene Hackman marries Faye Maltese

In 1956 he married Faye Maltese and the two would continue to welcome three children together – son Christopher and daughters Elizabeth and Leslie. They got married for 30 years before they were shared in 1986.

Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman & Robert Duvall collaborates

Moving to New York to pursue their actors, Hackman, Hoffman and their friend Robert Duvall worked odd jobs while he dreamed more. During the 50s and 60s, the trio leaned each other as times became tough.

“On these days it was a matter of which of us was the most broken right then, and the other two would help him,” Hackman told Vanity 2004.

Gene Hackman hits Broadway

In 1958 Hackman broke into theater outside Broadway and continued landing roles on the small stage.

After seeing him in the original role of Someone Wednesday, Director Robert Rossen threw him Lilith 1964 Alongside Warren Beatty, Biography.com reported. From there, Hackman’s big break would soon follow.

Gene Hackman’s Big Break

Hackman’s rising star shone like Buck Barrow in the now iconic Bonnie and Clyde, Act together with Beatty and Faye Dunaway, who played the criminal couple.

Drama from 1967 was a cash office and Hackman even got his first Oscar nomination for best support actors.

Gene Hackman’s first Oscar nomination

Although he did not finally did the statue, Hackman was all smiles at the Academy Awards 1968 with his wife, plus Hoffman and his date Ellen McCarthy.

Gene hackman stars in ‘I never sang for my father’

Subsequently, the actor handled the role of college professor Gene Garrison in I never sang for my father (1970), for which he got his second Oscar nick for best actors.

Gene Hackman plays Popeye Doyle in ‘The French Connection’

The following year, Hackman shot superstar for his depiction of detective popeye doyle in The French connection, Chases down a heroin smugglers with his comrades in the New York City Police Department.

For the exciting role, he was nominated for the Oscar Award for best actors.

Gene Hackman wins his first Oscar prize

And he won! Hackman’s excitement while Accepts the award At the Academy Awards 1972, everything said – he had done it in Hollywood.

Sweeping the ceremony, The French connection Also netted four other Oscars, including the best picture — a first for an R-rated film, per Academy.

Gene Hackman Chips on a mystery in ‘The Conversation’

Hackman hardly lit after the success and lit up the leading role as a security expert obsessed with a mystery in Francis Ford Coppolas The conversationn. 1974 movie was nominated for three Oscars.

Gene Hackman has fun in ‘Young Frankenstein’

In the same year, the fans Hackman saw their range as an actor in comedy Young Frankenstein, Plays Harold The Blind Man.

Gene Hackman leans into Lex Luthor

Swap switches again, Hackman played in his first superhero movie with Superman: The movie 1978, in the role of the evil villain Lex Luthor. By creating a consequence room and threatening destruction for the righteous Superman (Christopher Reeve), Hackman would surprise the role in the two sequels that followed.

‘Hoosiers’ was a sludge dunk for Gene Hackman

Dribbling into the sports genre, Hackman played an optimistic coach who led his small -town basketball team for high school to success at the state championship in the critically acclaimed film 1984.

Gene Hackman is the man for the job in ‘Mississippi Burning’

In another critically acclaimed character, Hackman played as an FBI agent who sought justice in the 1998 Mississippi Burning. For that matter, he got his second Oscar nick for best actors.

Gene Hackman Weds Betsy Arakawa

Five years after his split from Maltesen he married Betsy Arakawa, seen here with him at Vanity Oscar Party 1994.

Gene Hackman in ‘Unforgive’

“Many actors and writers have their roots in Midwester Towns,” Hackman told Konnoisseuir 1988. “It seems to generate a rich fantasy life.”

After his heart back to the western genre, Hackman played like a Stickler -Sheriff with a dark side in Unforgivable (1992), directed by Clint Eastwood.

Gene Hackman wins his second Oscar

For his role as the chilly cowboy Little Bill Daggett, Hackman won his second Oscar Prize for best actors. Unforgivable Also picked up the best image price that year.

Gene Hackman takes the 2000s

The actor embraced a series of roles in the new millennium, from Moody Royal Tenenbaums to the legal thriller Earth jury and comedy Welcome to Mooseport – who became his last role before announcing his pension.

Gene Hackman tells Larry King that he has retired

In conversation with CNN values ​​in 2004, Hackman said that his career in front of the camera was “over”, and joking it because all roles had dried up.

“I have no project, Larry. If you have a script, I read it,” he was joking to king.

Gene Hackman, novelist

By bending his creativity in a different way, Hackman started a career as a novelist and released The edge of the Perdido star, escape from Andersonville and Justice for none Through the end of the 90s and early 2000s.

Gene Hackman looks back on his life

In October 2021, Hackman gave its First interview In a decade for 50^Th The anniversary of the anniversary The French connection.

“Film creation has always been risky – both physically and emotionally – but I choose to consider that film for a moment in a checkered career of hits and misses,” he told New York Post.

“The movie really helped me in my career, and I’m grateful for that,” Hackman added.

Gene Hackman dies

On February 26, 2025, Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa found dead, along with their dogin their Santa FE -home, according to the sheriff’s department. Hackman leaves behind Three children He shared with his first wife, Faye Maltese: Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Ann Hackman.

Asked by GQ 2011 about how he would like to remember, Hackman replied humbly: “As a decent actor. Like someone who tried to portray what was given them honestly. I don’t know, beyond that. ”