Five Facts About Gene Hackman, Who Is 90 Today

Gene Hackman
Photo credit Gene Hackman circa 1970s (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Gene Hackman quietly retired from acting nearly two decades ago, but he’s still considered a gold standard in cinema. 

Hackman was born Jan. 30, 1930 in San Bernardino, California, before his family settled in the east central Illinois city of Danville. He was not long for that place, enlisting in the Marines as a teen. Following his stint in the service, he eventually moved to New York and worked on the stage.

After a series of roles in television in the 1960s, Hackman gained traction on the big screen in supporting roles. A big break for him was co-starring alongside Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway in the 1967 hit Bonnie and Clyde. He exploded in The French Connection (1971) as a streetwise New York detective.

The burly but sensitive Hackman was part of a wave of unconventional leading men, including Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino, who found work in the challenging films of the era. Like these actors, Hackman would work steadily over the years and provide memorable supporting performances as he grew more mature.

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Happy 90th Birthday, Gene Hackman! His 6 Best Movies
Happy 90th Birthday, Gene Hackman! His 6 Best Movies

In celebration of his 90th birthday, here are five factoids about the celebrated actor: 

The Danville Connection. Having Gene Hackman alone as a hometown boy would be a big deal for any city. But Danville, near the Indiana border, can lay claim to others. Dick and Jerry Van Dyke grew up there, as did the late cabaret singer Bobby Short. Actor-dancer Donald O’Connor (Singin' in the Rain) spent a lot of time in the Illinois burg during his vaudeville upbringing and felt an affinity for the place.