So sad to report that the body of actor Gene Hackman was discovered yesterday He, along with his wife and dog, were found dead in his home in New Mexico, and they were believed to have been dead for several days. As of this writing, cause of death is still unknown. Hackman was 95 years old.
The five-time Oscar-nominated Hackman, one of my favorite actors, first gained recognition in 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde", and despite his unconventional looks, rose to fame as a two-time Academy Award winner and one of Hollywood's most respected and accomplished stars until his retirement in 2004. Over his career, he appeared in just over 100 films and television shows including the films "I Never Sang for My Father", "Scarecrow", "A Bridge Too Far", "Superman", "Reds", "Hoosiers", "No Way Out", "Postcards from the Edge", "The Birdcage", "Crimson Tide", "Enemy of the State", "The Royal Tenenbaums", and Oscar winning roles in "The French Connection" and "The Unforgiven". I was lucky to meet him once briefly, and remember him being nice and very tall. You can read more about the incredibly talented Gene Hackman in my posts on "The Poseidon Adventure", "Bonnie and Clyde", and "Young Frankenstein". Be sure to check them out.