Director William Friedkin once recalled how Hackman struggled with the character’s violent and racist nature. “I knew I had to get him angry,” Friedkin said during a 2016 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences event.
Hackman earned multiple Academy Award nominations throughout his career:
- Best Supporting Actor (1971): “I Never Sang for My Father”
- Best Actor (1971): “The French Connection” (Won)
- Best Actor (1989): “Mississippi Burning”
- Best Supporting Actor (1992): “Unforgiven” (Won)
His filmography showcased his versatility, from playing a priest in “The Poseidon Adventure” to portraying Lex Luthor in the “Superman” series. Other notable performances included:
- “Young Frankenstein” – A blind man
- “The Conversation” – A surveillance expert
- “Hoosiers” – A high school basketball coach
- “Get Shorty” – A Hollywood producer
- “Enemy of the State” – A paranoid intelligence expert
- “The Royal Tenenbaums” – The estranged father of eccentric geniuses
Retirement and Literary Pursuits
Hackman retired from acting in 2004 after starring in “Welcome to Mooseport.” Speaking with CNN’s Larry King that same year, he admitted, “It’s probably all over.” He then transitioned into a career as an author. His wife word-processed his work.
