RIP, Gene Hackman … one of Hollywood’s all-time best actors

It’s always sad with the passing of one of the best in any endeavor. From sports to entertainment to politics to even business, the loss of a “great” is a loss to us all. Today, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, I’m noting the passing of two-time Oscar winner and three-time Golden Globe winner Gene Hackman at age 95. Sadly, his death initially has as much drama as did his professional life.

Hackman, whose career spanned five decades from his first acting credit in 1961 and the final in 2004, was nominated for three other Oscars and nominated for five other Golden Globes while also being given the Cecil B. DeMille Award for distinguished service to entertainment at the Golden Globes in 2003.

It’s an understatement to say Hackman was an actor’s actor, top-shelf or on the A-list. Put them all together and you have summed up his career in a few words.

Hackman and his wife were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, during the past week and authorities are investigating, saying the deaths are “suspicious.” (NOTE: I’ll update this story upon the announcement of the cause of death.)

Still, I’m here to celebrate Hackman’s wonderful career on the big-screen and what a career he brought to audiences. Here’s the rundown of the major awards and nominations:

Oscar wins: “Unforgiven” (1992) “The French Connection” (1971)	Oscar nominations: “Mississippi Burning” (1988) “I Never Sang for My Father” (1970) “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967)
Golden Globe wins: “The Royal Tennenbaums” (2001) “Unforgiven” (1992) “The French Connection” (1971)	Golden Globe nominations: “Mississippi Burning” (1988) “Twice in a Lifetime” (1985) “Under Fire” (1983) “French Connection II” (1975) “The Conversation” (1974)

I’d say his most under-appreciated roles due to lack of awards or nominations were for “The Conversation” (that was his first that I saw in a theater) and the endearing “Hoosiers.” He was also in big-budget turns in “The Firm” with Tom Cruise; “The Chamber” with Chris O’Donnell and Faye Dunaway; “No Way Out” with Kevin Costner; “Target” with Matt Dillon; and, in a surprising comedic turn, “Young Frankenstein” from director Mel Brooks.

I have to say that it’s my opinion he did his best work with Clint Eastwood in “Unforgiven.” Many say “Unforgiven” is Clint’s best work in front of and behind the camera, but I liked “The Outlaw Josey Wales” better because of how overly dark “Unforgiven” presents itself and in it, Hackman takes “cruel” to a level he never reached in any other film, including his brutal turn in “The Quick and the Dead.”

I regard “The Conversation” from writer-director Francis Ford Coppola in 1974 as an amazing movie only because of Hackman’s work. He was outstanding in most of his films, but this one showed how he could carry a film as much by his acting as just his physical presence.

Here are the films that I’ve reviewed that featured him (I’m putting them in chronological order by date of release and rating the FILM not Hackman’s effort):

• “The French Connection” (1971) … instant classic of a police action-drama from director William Friedkin … ****
• “A Bridge Too Far” (1977) … big-budge, huge-cast film set in World War … ***
• “Target” (1985) … family drama set amid an espionage drama … ****
• “Hoosiers” (1986) … high school basketball “true story” … ****
• “The Quick and the Dead” (1995) … western with Sharon Stone … **½
• “Get Shorty” (1995) … crime-comedy with John Travolta and Rene Russo … ***
• “Runaway Jury” (2003) … courtroom drama with Dustin Hoffman … ***½

Click here to see a complete rundown of every award and nomination earned by Hackman …

Rest in peace, Mr. Hackman.

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