RIP Gene Hackman

[Dazzle1]

Too many roles to count

I hope people will wait before speculating on his death

[bushwackerbob]

I loved Gene Hackman in Hoosiers and Mississippi Burning. Folks in our community will of course recall Hackman playing Lex Luthor in Superman in the Christopher Reeve films. Many critics have declared the decade of the 70's to be the greatest decade of films ever. Hackman had much success in that decade with The French Connection, among others. I remember about ten years ago seeing Hackman in the 1972 film Poseidon Adventure, which I thought was awesome.

[DrDominator9]

From Hackman's Popeye Doyle' line, "Do you pick your feet in Poughkeepsie," to his incredible performance as Little Bill Daggett, the sheriff in "Unforgiven," his career was a joy to behold.

A light point of humor. I forget who delivered the joke at the Oscars the year Hackman won for "The French Connection," but the line was that the winner of the Best Actor category would be driven home by Gene Hackman. The car chase in that movie was epic!! Funny moment.

[shevek]

Too many roles to count

I hope people will wait before speculating on his death

A legend!

Rather sad end. The story I heard on Thursday night was pretty wild, but it could be pure speculation, as you said, so let's wait for the coroner to figure out how Gene, his wife, and his dog all died around roughly the same short period of time in their own home.

[Judah]

One of the greatest.
My top 10 favorite Gene Hackman movies
French Connection
Crimson Tide - Went toe to toe with Denzel Washington
Loose Cannons - "No no no warp speed here"
Unforgiven - "Talkin to all them Villains - Down there in Cheyenne" as he beats the living crap out of Richard Harris
Enemy of the State
Get Shorty
Superman - No one has been able to top him as Lex Luthor
Absolute Power
Royal Tenenbaums
Young Frankenstein - "Where ya going. I was gonna make espresso"
RIP Big Gene Hackman

[Dogfish]

He really was an excellent actor.

Such ferocity to his performances but also he was capable of so much nuance with it. He could be the guy you wanted in your corner or the last man you'd want to find yourself up against.

For me his greatest role is Little Bill in Unforgiven. A man who thinks he is the hero of the story, a man who thinks he has God on his side, a man who, honestly, isn't the worst villain in the world, but still needs to go. And he's played with charm and dignity and gravitas.

I don't say it lightly but Unforgiven might be the greatest Western ever made, and it could not work with a lesser actor.

I hope the mystery of his passing is solved so it doesn't become a whole thing, and I hope it wasn't too rough on him.

[Malice]

Superman - No one has been able to top him as Lex Luthor

Amen!

Rest in peace Sir!

[Dogfish]

The mystery of his final days has been figured out, and the lesson to be learned is to check in on your elderly relatives.

[Lurkndog]

I also liked Hackman as Herod in The Quick and the Dead.

RIP