The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.
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Actor Gene Hackman reacts during an interview on March 24, 1972. (AP Photo/George Brich)
Actor Gene Hackman with wife Betsy Arakawa in June 1993. (AP Photo)
Actors Christopher Reeve, left, and co-star Gene Hackman arrive at the premiere of the movie "Superman" in Los Angeles, Ca., on Dec. 15, 1978. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
In this Dec. 6, 1985, file photo, actor Gene Hackman gives fictional Hickory High basketball players instructions during filming of the final game of the movie "Hoosiers" at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler University campus in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland)
Actor Gene Hackman waves as he starts out for a practice run in his Toyota Celica, Feb. 5, 1983 at the Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Daytona 24 Hour Endurac Race. (AP Photo/Bob Self)
Gene Hackman, Warren Beatty, and Faye Dunaway in 'Bonnie and Clyde' (1967)
Gene Hackman in 'First to Fight' (1967)
Gene Hackman in 'Downhill Racer' (1969)
Gene Hackman and James Franciscus in 'Marooned' (1969)
Gene Hackman in 'The French Connection' (1971)
Ernest Borgnine and Gene Hackman in 'The Poseidon Adventure' (1972)
Al Pacino and Gene Hackman in 'Scarecrow' (1973)
Gene Hackman in 'The Conversation' (1974)
Gene Hackman protrayed Superman's arch-nemesis Lex Luthor in Richard Donner's 1978 film.
Gene Hackman and Valerie Perrine in 'Superman II' (1980)
Gene Hackman, Ally Sheedy, and Ellen Burstyn in 'Twice in a Lifetime' (1985)
Gene Hackman in 'Crimson Tide' (1995)
Gene Hackman in 'Superman IV: The Quest for Peace' (1987)
Willem Dafoe, R. Lee Ermey, and Gene Hackman in 'Mississippi Burning' (1988)
Gene Hackman and Mikhail Baryshnikov in 'Company Business' (1991)
Gene Hackman in 'Unforgiven' (1992)
Gene Hackman in 'Absolute Power' (1997)
Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman in 'The Replacements' (2000)
Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, Jonah Meyerson, Kumar Pallana, and Grant Rosenmeyer in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Gene Hackman in 'The Royal Tenenbaums' (2001)
Gene Hackman in 'Runaway Jury' (2003)
Actors Morgan Freeman, right, and Gene Hackman, left, pose with Italian actress Monica Bellucci during a photocall for their film "Under Suspicion" directed by Stephen Hopkins which will be screened out of competition at the 53rd International Film Festival in Cannes, French Riviera, Thursday, May 11, 2000. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)
William Friedkin, winner of the award for best achievement in directing for "The French Connection," from right, Jane Fonda, winner of the best actress award for "Klute," Gene Hackman, winner of the best actor award for "The French Connection" and producer Philip D'Antoni, winner of the award for best picture for "The French Connection," pose in the press room at the Academy Awards, March 27, 1971 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo)
Actor Gene Hackman is seen in this 1993 photo. (AP Photo)
Actor Gene Hackman, winner of Best Supporting Actor at academy awards in March 1993. (AP Photo)
