---
name: "Gene Hackman"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/gene-hackman"
fi1m_id: "gene-hackman"
imdb_id: "nm0000432"
tmdb_id: 193
wikidata_id: "Q150943"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 January 1930"
died: "17 February 2025"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 15
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 15
updated: "2026-10-23T04:11:36.356169+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Gene Hackman

## Identity

Gene Hackman

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/gene-hackman
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** gene-hackman
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000432
- **TMDB ID:** 193
- **Wikidata ID:** Q150943
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Hackman, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150943, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000432/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/193

Actor. Born 30 January 1930 in San Bernardino, California, USA. Died 17 February 2025.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 January 1930, San Bernardino, California, USA
- **Died:** 17 February 2025
- **Active:** 1967–2001
- **Also known as:** Eugene Allen Hackman, Eugene Alder, Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman
- **Frequently works with:** [Christopher Reeve](https://film.one/person/christopher-reeve.md), [Danny DeVito](https://film.one/person/danny-devito.md), [David Newman](https://film.one/person/david-newman-6728.md), [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://film.one/person/jerry-bruckheimer.md), [Margot Kidder](https://film.one/person/margot-kidder.md), [Scott Rudin](https://film.one/person/scott-rudin.md), [Tony Scott](https://film.one/person/tony-scott.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won · 3 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 15 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 88 (1), 1970s 88 (2), 1980s 66 (5), 1990s 80 (5), 2000s 70 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 70 across 14 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 9 of 14 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Crime 6, Action 5, Thriller 5, Comedy 4, Mystery 3
- **Screen time:** 31 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,672m across 15 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Hackman, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150943, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000432/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/193

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Conversation*](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md) (92), [*The French Connection*](https://film.one/film/the-french-connection.md) (85), [*The Birdcage*](https://film.one/film/the-birdcage.md) (81), [*Enemy of the State*](https://film.one/film/enemy-of-the-state.md) (73)
- **HBO Max:** [*Superman II*](https://film.one/film/superman-ii.md) (74), [*The Firm*](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) (71), [*Superman IV: The Quest for Peace*](https://film.one/film/superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace.md) (30)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Get Shorty*](https://film.one/film/get-shorty.md) (82)
- **Apple TV:** [*Mississippi Burning*](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Gene Hackman

> Gene Hackman could make a man seem dangerous, then expose how hard he was working to look important. We value the economy of his acting, and the comedy he found in people who expected to be obeyed.

Gene Hackman’s Harry Zimm is busy trying to sound important in *Get Shorty* (1995), and Hackman lets us notice the work. The bluster takes effort; Harry cannot quite relax into his own importance. We laughed because Hackman makes that effort visible without making Harry a fool who knows he is funny. It is an excellent comic performance, with enough strain in it to keep the man recognisable. We can enjoy his company while remaining unconvinced by his claims to importance.

That ability to suggest more than a character wants to admit runs through the work. Buck Barrow in *Bonnie and Clyde* (1967) established him as a character actor; Popeye Doyle in *The French Connection* (1971) brought him to the centre. Doyle gives us the intense, physical Hackman, but that is only part of what he could do. Harry Caul in Francis Ford Coppola’s *The Conversation* (1974) turns towards introspection and paranoia. The economical acting suits both: he can make a character’s unease apparent without having to explain it.

His authority figures are especially persuasive because menace and vulnerability can sit so close together. In *Unforgiven* (1992), the brutal sheriff Little Bill Daggett gives that authority an ugly use, without requiring Hackman to abandon restraint. Across his performances, a smile can offer reassurance or make us suspicious, and the quick change between the two keeps us attentive. Late in his career, he played Royal Tenenbaum in *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001), but comedy was hardly a departure.

For a particularly enjoyable example, return to Barry Sonnenfeld’s *Get Shorty*. Sonnenfeld lets Hackman’s strained self-importance rub against John Travolta’s composure and Danny DeVito’s easy entitlement, rather than asking everyone to be funny in the same way. Harry does not have to match the other men’s ease, and the comedy is better for it. The Hollywood jokes can be easy and there is little suspense, so the performances matter in a crime comedy whose pleasures are chiefly in its conversations. Watch it for Hackman trying to look important among people who are rather busy doing the same.

## Biography

Gene Hackman was an American actor. Born in San Bernardino, California, he made his credited film debut in *Lilith* (1964) and went on to appear in more than 80 films over four decades.

He won two Academy Awards: Best Actor for his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in *The French Connection* (1971) and Best Supporting Actor for Sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett in *Unforgiven* (1992). He received further Oscar nominations for *Bonnie and Clyde* (1967), *I Never Sang for My Father* (1970) and *Mississippi Burning* (1988). Among his other notable performances were roles in *The Conversation* (1974), *Superman* (1978), *The Firm* (1993), *Get Shorty* (1995) and *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001).

Hackman retired from acting after the early 2000s.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, telegraph.co.uk.*

## On Fi1m (15)

- *The Mexican* (2001), Fi1m 56, as Margolese — [page](https://film.one/film/the-mexican.md)
- *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001), Fi1m 84, as Royal Tenenbaum — [page](https://film.one/film/the-royal-tenenbaums.md)
- *Enemy of the State* (1998), Fi1m 73, as Brill — [page](https://film.one/film/enemy-of-the-state.md)
- *The Birdcage* (1996), Fi1m 81, as Senator Kevin Keeley — [page](https://film.one/film/the-birdcage.md)
- *Get Shorty* (1995), Fi1m 82, as Harry Zimm — [page](https://film.one/film/get-shorty.md)
- *The Firm* (1993), Fi1m 71, as Avery Tolar — [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md)
- *Unforgiven* (1992), Fi1m 92, as 'Little' Bill Daggett — [page](https://film.one/film/unforgiven.md)
- *Mississippi Burning* (1988), Fi1m 72, as Agent Rupert Anderson — [page](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md)
- *Superman IV: The Quest for Peace* (1987), Fi1m 30, as Lex Luthor — [page](https://film.one/film/superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace.md)
- *Hoosiers* (1986), Fi1m 79, as Norman Dale — [page](https://film.one/film/hoosiers.md)
- *Reds* (1981), Fi1m 77, as Pete van Wherry — [page](https://film.one/film/reds.md)
- *Superman II* (1980), Fi1m 74, as Lex Luthor — [page](https://film.one/film/superman-ii.md)
- *The Conversation* (1974), Fi1m 92, as Harry Caul — [page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *The French Connection* (1971), Fi1m 85, as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle — [page](https://film.one/film/the-french-connection.md)
- *Bonnie and Clyde* (1967), Fi1m 88, as Buck Barrow — [page](https://film.one/film/bonnie-and-clyde.md)

## Complete filmography (103)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films* (2014), as Lex Luthor (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut* (2006), as Lex Luthor
- *Shipibo Konibo: A Rite of Passage* (2005), as Narrator (voice)
- *Welcome to Mooseport* (2004), as Monroe Cole
- *Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust* (2004), as Narrator
- *Runaway Jury* (2003), as Rankin Fitch
- *Once Upon a Time: The Super Heroes* (2001), as Lex Luthor (archive footage)
- *Behind Enemy Lines* (2001), as Admiral Leslie Reigart, Commander Adriatic Battle Group
- *Heist* (2001), as Joe Moore
- *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001), as Royal Tenenbaum — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-royal-tenenbaums.md)
- *Heartbreakers* (2001), as William B. Tensy
- *The Mexican* (2001), as Margolese — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/the-mexican.md)
- *Under Suspicion* (2000), as Henry Hearst · Executive Producer
- *The Replacements* (2000), as Jimmy McGinty
- *Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood* (1999), as Narrator (voice)
- *Enemy of the State* (1998), as Brill — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/enemy-of-the-state.md)
- *Antz* (1998), as General Mandible (voice)
- *Twilight* (1998), as Jack Ames
- *Absolute Power* (1997), as President Richmond
- *The Chamber* (1996), as Sam Cayhall
- *Extreme Measures* (1996), as Dr. Lawrence Myrick
- *The Birdcage* (1996), as Senator Kevin Keeley — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-birdcage.md)
- *Making Frankensense of Young Frankenstein* (1996), as Blind Man (archive footage)
- *Get Shorty* (1995), as Harry Zimm — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/get-shorty.md)
- *Crimson Tide* (1995), as Captain Franklin "Frank" Ramsey
- *The Quick and the Dead* (1995), as Herod
- *Wyatt Earp* (1994), as Nicholas Earp
- *Geronimo: An American Legend* (1993), as Brig. Gen. George Crook
- *The Firm* (1993), as Avery Tolar — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md)
- *Earth and the American Dream* (1992), as Reader (voice)
- *Unforgiven* (1992), as 'Little' Bill Daggett — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/unforgiven.md)
- *Company Business* (1991), as Sam Boyd
- *Class Action* (1991), as Jedediah Tucker Ward
- *Narrow Margin* (1990), as Robert Caulfield
- *Postcards from the Edge* (1990), as Lowell Kolchek
- *Miami Blues* (1990), Thanks
- *Loose Cannons* (1990), as MacArthur Stern
- *The Package* (1989), as Sgt. Johnny Gallagher
- *Mississippi Burning* (1988), as Agent Rupert Anderson — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md)
- *Full Moon in Blue Water* (1988), as Floyd
- *Another Woman* (1988), as Larry
- *Bat★21* (1988), as Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton
- *Split Decisions* (1988), as Dan McGuinn
- *No Way Out* (1987), as Defense Secretary David Brice
- *Superman IV: The Quest for Peace* (1987), as Lex Luthor — Fi1m 30, [page](https://film.one/film/superman-iv-the-quest-for-peace.md)
- *Hoosiers* (1986), as Norman Dale — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/hoosiers.md)
- *Power* (1986), as Wilfred Buckley
- *Target* (1985), as Walter Lloyd
- *Twice in a Lifetime* (1985), as Harry MacKenzie
- *Uncommon Valor* (1983), as Col. Cal Rhodes
- *Two of a Kind* (1983), as God (voice) (uncredited)
- *Misunderstood* (1983), as Ned Rawley
- *Under Fire* (1983), as Alex Grazier
- *Eureka* (1983), as Jack McCann
- *Reds* (1981), as Pete van Wherry — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/reds.md)
- *All Night Long* (1981), as George Dupler
- *Superman II* (1980), as Lex Luthor — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/superman-ii.md)
- *Superman* (1978), as Lex Luthor
- *March or Die* (1977), as Major William Sherman Foster
- *The Hollywood Greats* (1977), series, Actor
- *A Bridge Too Far* (1977), as Maj. Gen. Stanislaw F. Sosabowski
- *The Domino Principle* (1977), as Tucker
- *Lucky Lady* (1975), as Kibby
- *Bite the Bullet* (1975), as Sam Clayton
- *Night Moves* (1975), as Harry Moseby
- *French Connection II* (1975), as "Popeye" Doyle
- *Young Frankenstein* (1974), as Blindman
- *Zandy's Bride* (1974), as Zandy Allen
- *The Conversation* (1974), as Harry Caul — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *Scarecrow* (1973), as Max Millan
- *The Poseidon Adventure* (1972), as Reverend Scott
- *Prime Cut* (1972), as Mary Ann
- *Cisco Pike* (1972), as Officer Leo Holland
- *The French Connection* (1971), as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-french-connection.md)
- *The Hunting Party* (1971), as Brandt Ruger
- *Doctors' Wives* (1971), as Dave Randolph
- *I Never Sang for My Father* (1970), as Gene Garrison
- *Marooned* (1969), as Buzz Lloyd
- *Downhill Racer* (1969), as Eugene Claire
- *The Gypsy Moths* (1969), as Joe Browdy
- *Riot* (1969), as Red Fraker
- *Shadow on the Land* (1968), as Rev. Thomas Davis
- *The Split* (1968), as Lt. Walter Brill
- *Banning* (1967), as Tommy Del Gaddo
- *Bonnie and Clyde* (1967), as Buck Barrow — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/bonnie-and-clyde.md)
- *A Covenant with Death* (1967), as Harmsworth
- *First to Fight* (1967), as Sergeant Tweed
- *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Tom Jessup
- *CBS Playhouse* (1966), series, as Ned
- *Hawaii* (1966), as John Whipple
- *Hawk* (1966), series, Actor
- *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Herb Kenyon
- *The Trials of O'Brien* (1965), series, as Roger Nathan
- *Lilith* (1964), as Norman
- *East Side/West Side* (1963), series, Actor
- *The DuPont Show of the Week* (1961), series, as Douglas McCann
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Stanley McGuirk
- *Mad Dog Coll* (1961), as Cop (uncredited)
- *Tallahassee 7000* (1961), series, as Joe Lawson
- *Route 66* (1960), series, as Motorist
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as Mr. Jasper
- *The United States Steel Hour* (1953), series, Actor
- *Close-Up on The Conversation*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Gene Hackman as Harry Caul in The Conversation (1974)](https://film.one/media/title/330/still-4443975b5484.jpg) Gene Hackman as Harry Caul in *The Conversation* (1974) — Image via TMDB
- ![Gene Hackman as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in The French Connection (1971)](https://film.one/media/title/3908/still-397ddf87e223.jpg) Gene Hackman as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in *The French Connection* (1971) — Image via TMDB
- ![Gene Hackman as 'Little' Bill Daggett in Unforgiven (1992)](https://film.one/media/title/1817/still-85b1c2b96dfd.jpg) Gene Hackman as 'Little' Bill Daggett in *Unforgiven* (1992) — Image via TMDB
- ![Gene Hackman as Agent Rupert Anderson in Mississippi Burning (1988)](https://film.one/media/title/3144/still-130d98f5a4c3.jpg) Gene Hackman as Agent Rupert Anderson in *Mississippi Burning* (1988) — Image via TMDB
- ![Gene Hackman](https://film.one/media/person/79892/gallery-584693a5ac47.jpg) Gene Hackman — Chicago Daily News, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Gene_Hackman_-_1972.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Academy Award winner Gene Hackman cuts cake on set of his new film, The Poseidon Adventure, at 20th Century Fox. Other members of cast who previously had won Os (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/79892/gallery-5351ee9e2d57.jpg) Academy Award winner Gene Hackman cuts cake on set of his new film, The Poseidon Adventure, at 20th Century Fox. Other members of cast who previously had won Os (1972) — Bruce H. Cox, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Actors_on_the_set_of_The_Poseidon_Adventure_celebrating_their_Oscar_wins.jpg/1280px-Actors_on_the_set_of_The_Poseidon_Adventure_celebrating_their_Oscar_wins.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Window card poster to promote showings of the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde at college campuses.](https://film.one/media/person/79892/gallery-9fc6babe9f4d.jpg) Window card poster to promote showings of the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde at college campuses. — Distributed by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Bonnie_and_Clyde_%281967_campus_poster%29.jpg/1280px-Bonnie_and_Clyde_%281967_campus_poster%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Main cast photo for the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. From left to right: Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons, Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Michael J. Pollard.](https://film.one/media/person/79892/gallery-178e27fde23f.jpg) Main cast photo for the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. From left to right: Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons, Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Michael J. Pollard. — Distributed by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Bonnie_and_Clyde_%281967_cast_photo%29.jpg/1280px-Bonnie_and_Clyde_%281967_cast_photo%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gene Hackman](https://film.one/media/person/79892/gallery-5f9571b74cd1.jpg) Gene Hackman — Image via TMDB
- ![Bowie theater advertisement for the biographical neo-noir crime film, Bonnie and Clyde. 22 September 1967.](https://film.one/media/person/79892/gallery-fec1a25de7d5.jpg) Bowie theater advertisement for the biographical neo-noir crime film, Bonnie and Clyde. 22 September 1967. — Warner Bros.-Seven Arts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Bowie_Theatre_Ad_-_22_September_1967%2C_Brownwood%2C_TX.jpg/1280px-Bowie_Theatre_Ad_-_22_September_1967%2C_Brownwood%2C_TX.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Celebrities from Danville, Il. Walldog Mural. Bobby Short Jerry Van Dyke Dick Van Dyke Gene Hackman Donald O'Connor Helen Morgan (2022)](https://film.one/media/person/79892/gallery-15c3582b7622.jpg) Celebrities from Danville, Il. Walldog Mural. Bobby Short Jerry Van Dyke Dick Van Dyke Gene Hackman Donald O'Connor Helen Morgan (2022) — ComRela, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Celebrities_Walldog.jpg/1280px-Celebrities_Walldog.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 2 won, 3 nominated

- 1993: Best Supporting Actor (won), for *Unforgiven*
- 1989: Best Actor (nominated), for *Mississippi Burning*
- 1972: Best Actor (won), for *The French Connection*
- 1971: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *I Never Sang for My Father*
- 1968: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Bonnie and Clyde*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 2 won

- 1993: Best Actor in a Supporting Role (won), for *Unforgiven*
- 1973: Best Actor in a Leading Role (won), for *The French Connection*

### Golden Globes — 4 won

- 2002: Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (won)
- 2001: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (won), for *The Royal Tenenbaums*
- 1992: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture (won), for *Unforgiven*
- 1971: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *The French Connection*

### Berlin International Film Festival — 1 won

- 1989: Best Actor (won), for *Mississippi Burning*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/gene-hackman