Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman[His middle name is "Allen," according to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905–1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. At Ancestry.com] (born January 30, 1930) is an American actor and novelist.
Hackman has made 80 films. He came to fame in 1967 when his performance as
Buck Barrow in
Bonnie and Clyde earned him his first Oscar nomination. His major roles include police detective
Popeye Doyle in
The French Connection, surveillance expert Harry Caul in
The Conversation, basketball coach Norman Dale in
Hoosiers, the heroic Reverend Scott in
The Poseidon Adventure, federal agent Rupert Anderson in
Mississippi Burning, sadistic sheriff Little Bill Daggett in
Unforgiven, arch-villain
Lex Luthor in
Superman (plus two of its sequels), Edward "Brill" Lyle in
Enemy of the State, submarine captain Frank Ramsey in
Crimson Tide, professional thief Joe Moore in
Heist and Admiral Leslie McMahon Reigart in
Behind Enemy Lines.
