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remarkably prolific and versatile talent, Gene Hackman
was a successful character actor whose uncommon abilities
and smart career choices ultimately made him a most
unlikely leading man. In the tradition of Spencer Tracy,
he excelled as an Everyman, consistently delivering
intelligent, natural performances which established
him among the most respected and well-liked stars of
his era. Born January 30, 1931, in San Bernardino, CA,
Hackman joined the Marines at the age of 16 and later
served in Korea. After studying journalism at the University
of Illinois, he pursued a career in television production
but later decided to try his hand at acting, attending
a Pasadena drama school with fellow student Dustin Hoffman;
ironically, they were both voted "least likely
to succeed." After briefly appearing in the 1961
film Mad Dog Coll, Hackman made his debut off-Broadway
in 1963's Children at Their Games, earning a Clarence
Derwent Award for his supporting performance. Poor Richard
followed, before he starred in 1964's production of
Any Wednesday.
Returning
to films in 1964, Hackman earned strong notices for
his work in Warren Beatty's Lilith and 1966's Hawaii,
but the 1967 World War II tale First to Flight proved
disastrous for all involved. At Beatty's request,
Hackman co-starred in Bonnie and Clyde, winning a
Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination and establishing
himself as a leading character player. After making
a pair of films with Jim Brown, (1968's The Split
and 1969's Riot), Hackman supported Robert Redford
in The Downhill Racer, Burt Lancaster in The Gypsy
Moths, and Gregory Peck in Marooned. For 1970's I
Never Sang for My Father, he garnered another Academy
Award nomination. The following year Hackman became
a star; as New York narcotics agent Popeye Doyle,
a character rejected by at least seven other actors,
he headlined William Friedkin's thriller The French
Connection, winning a Best Actor Oscar and spurring
the film to Best Picture honors. Upon successfully
making the leap from supporting player to lead, he
next appeared in the disaster epic The Poseidon Adventure,
one of the biggest money-makers of 1972.
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