*Things you may not know about Gene
Gene has yet to recieve a star on the
Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Go to
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
to find out more and to vote for Gene.
At the age of 16, Gene was jailed for stealing candy soda po
from a convenience store.
In 1950 Gene broke both legs in a motorcycle accident.
Gene dropped out of school, lied about his age and joined the
Marine Corps
Voice of Nuclear Man, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Gene paints, drives in auto races, and flies planes.
Watching his own films make him terribly nervous.
Executive producer, Under Suspicion (also known as Suspicion),
Lions Gate Films, 1999
Hackman had heart surgery in June 1990 after which he slowed down
his work load. "The illness left the actor and sometime sketch artist
determined to move to the marble quarries of Carrera, Italy, to
become a sculptor. But "Unforgiven" changed things ... "
--From "Tough Guys Don't Talk" in Newsday, June 19, 1994.
When he is in New York, Hackman teaches at the New Actors Workshop,
a two-year professional actor training program.
Hackman was the first choice to play Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch.
The role eventually went to Robert Reed.
Diana Ross and Gene Hackman were to have starred in
"Tough Customers" in the '70's but the project
never got off the ground.
Hackman was the first choice to play Hannibal Lector in The Silence of
the Lambs. The role eventually went to Anthony Hopkins.
Hackman was offered the chance to direct The Silence of the Lambs. That
job was later filled by Jonathan Demme.
Hackman was offered the role of President Franklin Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor.
The role eventually went to Jon Voight.
Hackman was the sixth choice to play Popeye in The French Connection.
The film won him his first Academy Award.
Was offered the role of 'Marshal Sam Gerard' in the 1993 thriller "The Fugitive"
He turned down the lead role of Roy Neary in "Close Encounters of the
Third Kind" (1977) because of his stressful marriage, the part would ultimately
go to Richard Dreyfuss.
For his role as Lex Luthor in the Superman movies, he didn't want go bald. So
he was allowed to wear wigs instead,and was convinced to wear a bald cap in
only a few scenes.
The car crash in The French Connection at the intersection was
unplanned. The man whose car was hit had just left his house a
few blocks from the intersection to go to work and was unaware that
a car chase was being filmed. Fortunately, these were much less
litigious times, and all the producers had to do to make
him happy was pay to repair his car!.
Is one of the rare actors who've won an Oscar for a supporting role after winning
an Oscar for a leading role.
Was the subject of the song "Gene Hackman" by the Hoodoo Gurus.
Reportedly turned down one of the lead roles in Network (1976).
Reportedly turned down the role of Randall Patrick McMurphy in "One Flew Over
the Cuckoo's Nest"(1975).
Turned down the lead roles in Jaws (1975)
Turned down the lead roles Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
Hackman has provided the voice-overs for numerous TV commercials,
perhaps most notably for United Airlines.
Gene is the voice of the Oppenheimer Funds commercials (2006).
He is the voice of Lowe's Home Improvement commercials (2006).
Click here for audio files of a few of the commercials
Gene Hackman joined the long list of celebrities lampooned by South Park. It
happened in South Park episode 98 entitled "Krazy Kripples."
At the age of 16, Gene was jailed for stealing candy soda pop
from a convenience store.
Gene is the brother of Richard Hackman
Gene often says he wants to quit acting in films, but every
time he starts to miss it and wants to start another film.
Let's hope this continues!
Read more about Gene at the Biography page - click here
