His career started during the “New Hollywood” era, where he delivered standout performances in films such as Bonnie & Clyde (1967), The French Connection (1971), and Unforgiven (1992), before retiring from acting in 2004.
Among his many standout performances, his role in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) remains my absolute favourite. It is a story about a “bad father” called Royal Tenenbaum, played by Hackman, who has been exiled from his family for many years, but tries to create a plan to reinsert himself back in. In this film Gene Hackman is a master of beautifully controlled chaos. He balances the absurdity of Wes Anderson’s world with a character that is partly insufferable and partly deeply tragic. Hackman turns Royal’s selfishness into something almost heartbreaking, layering in moments of vulnerability that make you pity him even as he drives his family away. It is a performance that is both hilarious but also painfully real, capturing the messiness of a father who thinks he can redeem himself with a few good gestures.
Hackman’s versatility is evident in his roles across a vast scope of genres. In The Conversation (1974), he showcases the ability to evoke deep, mounting paranoia, with his grip on reality starting to shred. In Mississippi Burning (1988), appearing alongside Willem Dafoe and Frances McDormand, he delivers a raw performance of an FBI agent uncovering the racial agenda of the locals in a Mississippi town. Hackman’s ability to inhabit such varied characters definitely solidifies his reputation as one of the most adaptable and compelling actors in film history.
Gene Hackman’s death marks the loss of one of cinema’s legends, but his vast and great body of work will continue to inspire for years to come. After retiring from acting in 2004, Hackman left behind a legacy of versatile and unforgettable performances that have shaped the landscape of film. His impact on the industry remains profound, and his work will continue to influence generations of actors and filmmakers for a long time to come.