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Gene Hackman

He is among the world’s most acclaimed actors, yet ironically much of his success is because he comes across as so ordinary, so everyman. For over 50 years, Gene Hackman has been delivering indelible performances in film, theater, and television. This site explores the life and work of one of the screen’s very finest.

Bibliography

Books by Gene Hackman:

Now that he is retired, Gene Hackman is devoting his time to writing novels — so far, three with co-writer Daniel Lenihan and one alone.

  • Hackman, Gene. Payback at Morning Peak: A Novel of the American West. New York: Pocket Books, 2011. 391 pgs. Hackman’s first solo novel is described thusly: “With only memories of his family left to him, Jubal Young rides west into New Mexico in order to bring justice, or vengeance, to the drunken renegades that took everything from him.”
  • Hackman, Gene, and Daniel Lenihan. Escape from Andersonville: A Novel of the Civil War. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2008. 342 pgs. OCLC summary: “Incarcerated within a murderous Confederate prison camp in 1864, Union officer Nathan Parker escapes and urges his superiors to intervene, but when his efforts are blocked by military higher-ups, he organizes a private rescue mission with a shady ex-soldier.”
  • Hackman, Gene, and Daniel Lenihan. Justice for None. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2004. 320 pgs.  Amazon.com summary: “In their second novel, Gene Hackman and Daniel Lenihan bring to life the harsh plains and smoldering courtrooms of the Midwest: the small town of Vermilion, Illinois, on the brink of the Great Depression. Boyd Calvin is a troubled World War I veteran on the run from the law, suspected of murdering his estranged wife and her lover. Only a female reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the head of a sanitarium for veterans are not convinced of Boyd’s guilt. Boyd joins forces with another wrongly accused man, an African-American, and the two begin to face their shadowed pasts while fighting against the odds of justice.”

  • Hackman, Gene, and Daniel Lenihan. Wake of the Perdido Star. New York: Newmarket Press, 1999. 384 pgs.  Hackman’s first published work is an action novel “of shipwrecks, pirates, and the sea” set in the early nineteenth century.   Lenihan, Hackman’s co-writer and friend, is a noted underwater archaeologist.

Books About Gene Hackman:

Despite his reputation as one of the great film actors, surprisingly little has been published about Gene Hackman in the way of full-length books.   Perhaps his natural reticence and unglamorous lifestyle are reasons.  The two biographies below are apparently the only English-language profiles ever published, and both were written by Britons.

  • Hunter, Alan. Gene Hackman. New York: St, Martin’s Press, 1987. 248 pgs.  An unauthorized, straightforward account of Hackman’s life and work.   There’s little analysis of Hackman himself, neglecting especially his early years and what may have drawn him to acting.  Some good behind-the-scenes accounts, though, especially about the making of French Connection.
  • Michael, Munn. Gene Hackman. London: Robert Hale, 1997. 192 pgs.  Also quite cut-and-dried, though a bit more analytical of Hackman’s personality and working methods.  Munn has spoken with Hackman numerous times throughout the years and uses these interviews well.

Videos:

  • Bravo Profiles: Gene Hackman (2000).   The actor gives a rare TV interview  in this one-hour profile, which includes family photos and comments by collaborators.  Not available on video, but check Bravo’s monthly schedule for repeat airdates.
  • Gene Hackman: Portrait of the Artist. Produced by Van Ness Films in association with Foxstar Productions and A&E Network. New York: A&E Home Video, 1996.  Originally airing on A&E’s Biography, this is a solid introduction to the actor, and in some respects contains more insight than the print biographies listed above.
  • Inside the Actor’s Studio: Gene Hackman. (Originally aired 10/14/01 on the Bravo cable channel).  Gene is the guest for the celebrated program’s 100th episode.  As always, host James Lipton uncovers little-known information about his subject and convinces the normally shy actor to open up.  This fascinating 60-minute interview is not available on video but will air again.  The Bravo website has excerpts from the interview and other information about Hackman (the site’s design prevents me from including a direct link, so you’ll have to do some searching).

Periodical Articles:

While few books have been published about Hackman, scores of newspaper and magazines stories have appeared.  The list below includes just a few pieces.  If you live in the Danville, Illinois area, a good source is a clippings file maintained by the Public Library’s Reference Department.

  • Blinn, John. “Gene Hackman: Foodstyles of a Danville Celebrity Who Likes to Cook.” Danville Commercial-News, November 28, 1971, pg. 14.  Profiles Gene on the verge of stardom (just before the release of French Connection) talking about his love of food, and even includes his recipe for shrimp tempura.
  • Chatfield-Taylor, Joan and Mary E. Nichols. “Gene Hackman: Santa Fe Spaces for The French Connection’s Best Actor.” Architectural Digest 47 (April 1990): 250-257+.  Photographic tour of Hackman’s Southwestern-style home.
  • Collins, Andrew. “Gene Hackman: Royal Rapscallion.” Sight & Sound, V.15, Issue 11 (November 2005): 38-41.  An appreciation.
  • Culhane, John. “Gene Hackman’s Winning Wave.” Reader’s Digest 143 (Sep 1993): 88-92.  One of the few times Hackman has openly discussed his father’s abrupt departure from the family (when Gene was 13), something he surely drew on when filming I Never Sang for My Father.
  • Dreifus, Claudia. “Hackman Talks: A Rare Interview.” Connoisseur 218 (Aug 1988): 50-57.
  • Edelstein, David. “Gene Hackman, Hollywood’s Every Angry Man.” New York Times, December 16, 2001, Section II, pgs. 21, 29.  Profiles the actor, including his work on The Royal Tenenbaums.
  • Hawkes, Ellen. “The Day His Father Drove Away.” Parade Magazine (February 26, 1989): pgs. 10-12.  Another account of Hackman’s father’s departure.
  • Norman, Michael. “Hollywood’s Uncommon Everyman.” New York Times Magazine 121 (Mar 19, 1989): 28-31.

Filmography

Film Work:

Until his retirement, Gene Hackman was an extremely prolific film actor, appearing in up to six movies a year and nearly 90 films total.  Films are listed in reverse chronological order and linked to the Internet Movie Database, where full information can be found.  Films in italics are considered Hackman’s best.

Television Work (selected):

Acclaimed shows like “The Defenders” gave Hackman valuable early experience and paved the way for film roles.  Today, his television work is generally limited to narration and voiceovers (until recently he was heard in commercials for Lowe’s home improvement stores and Oppenheimer mutual funds).

  • I Spy in episode “Happy Birthday… Everybody” (originally aired 2/26/68).
  • Iron Horse in episode “Leopards Try” (10/28/67).
  • The Invaders in episode “The Spores” (10/17/67).
  • The F.B.I. in episode “The Courier” (1/15/67).
  • Hawk in episode “Do Not Mutilate or Spindle” (9/8/66).
  • The Trials of O’Brien in episode “The Only Game In Town” (3/18/66).
  • The Defenders in episodes “Judgment Eve” (4/17/63);  and “Quality of Mercy” (9/13/61).
  • Naked City in episode “Prime of Life” (2/13/63).
  • The United States Steel Hour in episodes “Far from the Shade Tree” (1/10/62); “Brandenburg Gate” (10/4/61); “Bride of the Fox” (8/24/60); “Big Doc’s Girl” (11/4/59); and “Little Tin God” (4/22/59).

Theater Work (late 1950s-early 1960s):

Like many young actors, Hackman initially considered himself a theater actor who would go slumming in film and television (“stealing money,” as he put it).  He appeared in numerous summer stock, regional, and improvisational theater productions, a few of which appear below (in reverse chronological order):

  • Poor Richard — Moving up in the theater world, Hackman shared above-the-title billing with Robert Preston in this Jean Kerr play.
  • The Natural Look — co-starred with Brenda Vaccaro.  Closed after one night, but was seen by film producer Walter Mirisch, who gave Hackman a small role in the big-budget Hawaii.
  • Any Wednesday — Muriel Resnik’s farce was Hackman’s meatiest role to date and a significant stepping stone in his career.
  • A Rainy Day in Newark — by Howard Teichman.
  • Children From Their Games — Irwin Shaw’s Broadway play ran just one performance, but Hackman won the Clarence Derwent Award for his work.  The single performance was also seen by film director Robert Rossen, who cast Hackman in Lilith.
  • Barefoot in the Park — a supporting role in the original Broadway production of the Neil Simon hit, this was an important early break and helped Hackman hone his comedic skills.  Robert Redford played the lead.
  • Chapparal — an off-Broadway play by Valgrem Massey.
  • Saintliness of Margery Kempe — another off-Broadway production, by John Wulp.
  • The Curious Miss Caraway — appeared with silent film star Zasu Pitts in his stage debut at the Pasadena Playhouse (where he briefly studied).

Webography

There seem to be few websites dedicated solely to Gene Hackman.   Most of the links below are general film sites with a page or two about the actor.

Born in San Bernadino, California in 1930, Gene Hackman moved to Danville as a young boy. At 16 he enlisted in the Marines for a four year hitch. He returned to Danville briefly after military service, working as a TV cameraman at WDAN, but soon left to pursue acting in California, and later, New York. He still has family and friends in the Danville area and occasionally visits.

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