Gene Hackman – The Man, The Myth, The Legend, Lex Luthor is no more.
If you had to pick an actor who always looked like a world-weary detective, a tough basketball coach, or a villain with a plan so absurd it’s actually genius – it’d be Gene Hackman. The guy who basically lived in the movies during the ‘70s and ‘80s, and then, like an absolute legend, just quit Hollywood to… write novels. Because why not?
Hackman is one of those actors who never really looked young. Even in "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967), he already had that vibe of a dude who knew the heist was a bad idea but got in the car anyway. Then came "The French Connection" (1971), where he chased drug dealers like a man who was just done with everyone’s nonsense. He won an Oscar for it and became the ultimate detective – more like a guy who lost his apartment keys than an actual cop.
Then came "Superman" (1978), where he played Lex Luthor, a villain who looked like he could be selling used cars in New Jersey. No superpowers, just charisma and a ridiculous amount of confidence. And guess what? He stole the show again! Then, of course,
"Unforgiven" (1992) happened, where Clint Eastwood told him to be the worst sheriff in the history of sheriffs. Hackman nailed it so hard he bagged another Oscar.
But Gene wasn’t just about being a tough guy. In "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001), he proved he could also be hilariously irritating as the world’s most dysfunctional father. And after that? He was done. He just peaced out and swapped movie scripts for writing books. What else was left for him to do? Make a comeback? No way!
Gene Hackman was 90+, chilling, painting, writing, and completely ignoring Hollywood’s attempts to bring him back. He was like a retired warrior who won every battle and now just sits in his chair, looks at the ocean, and thinks, "Yeah, that was pretty awesome."
And you know what? He was right.
