Gene Hackman, age 95, was an American actor known for iconic films such as “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The Birdcage.” Although he once told Wish-TV that he knew he wanted to act since age 10, Hackman’s path to success was not always an easy ride.
The star tried several career paths, including journalism and military service, before starting his Hollywood career, per the Military Times.
Hackman’s career trajectory is an inspiring story of determination. His first film appearance was an uncredited role in his first film, “Mad Dog Call,” in 1962. The performer worked his way up the industry ranks to win the Oscar for Best Actor 10 years later, at the age of 42.
GettyGene Hackman in ‘Twice In A Lifetime’, 1985.
Here is our ranking of the top 10 performances of Hackman’s storied career.
10. ‘The Quick And The Dead’
“The Quick And The Dead” is a 1995 revisionist Western romance in which Hackman starred alongside Sharon Stone and Leonardo DiCaprio, per IMBD. The plot follows a female gunfighter on a mission to avenge her father’s death. Fans on Rotten Tomatoes praised Hackman for his performance in the “thrilling” story, and called the film campy and fun.
9. ‘Mississippi Burning’
Civil Rights Teaching says Alan Parker’s 1988 crime thriller “Mississippi Burning” is a historically important film about a key moment in the civil rights movement. The story centers on the 1964 investigation into the suspicious disappearance of three key players in the movement. One fan on Reddit gave a passionate review, calling the film “incredible” and praising the gripping juxtaposition between Hackman and costar William Dafoe’s characters.
8. ‘Bonnie And Clyde’
One of Hackman’s most famous and beloved films is 1967’s “Bonnie And Clyde,” in which IMBD says Hackman starred alongside Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. The story is based on the real-life pair of infamous outlaws who inspired countless artistic works, including an iconic Beyonce and Jay Z song.
7. ‘The Birdcage’
Hackman took a humorous turn in director Mike Nichols’ “The Birdcage”, which is a whimsical 1996 comedy set in South Beach, per Letterboxd. Hackman shines as a staunch Republican senator who must contend with his daughter’s engagement to the son of a flamboyant couple who own a drag club.
6. ‘Unforgiven’
Roger Ebert called Clint Eastwood’s Western action drama “Unforgiven” the “turning-point” for the prolific filmmaker in a 2012 deep-dive analysis of the project. The film review site praised the project, which centers on a clash between law enforcement and prostitutes in a frontier town, for being signficantly deeper than Eastwood’s earlier shoot-em-up movies. The Action Elite called Hackman “an amazing villain” in his role as the movie’s main antagonist, which won him his fifth and final Oscar.
GetttyGene Hackman and Maria Tomei pose at the Oscars in 1993.
5. ‘Young Frankenstein’
In director Mel Brooks’ 1974 comedy horror “Young Frankenstein,” Hackman spotlighted his acting chops by playing a blind man, according to USA Today. The news site called the part one of Hackman’s “lesser known, but still great” roles and praised his comedic timing in the delivery of his memorable line, “Wait! Where are you going? I was going to make espresso.”
4. ‘Superman II’
1980’s family action movie “Superman II” is the follow-up to Christopher Reeve’s classic superhero hit, per IMBD. One fan on Reddit cited a story that Hackman refused to return to the set to do reshoots with director Richard Lester, with whom producers infamously replaced Richard Donner, as his favorite bit of movie lore.
3. ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’
The Criterion Collection calls director Wes Anderson’s mature Christmas comedy “The Royal Tenenbaums” a “hilarious, touching, and brilliantly stylized” work. Hackman stands out in his performance as a disgraced attorney who fakes cancer in a bid to garner sympathy from his ex-wife, which The Guardian called “a masterpiece” in a February 27, 2025 tribute.
GettyThe cast of “The Royal Tenenbaums” poses at the film’s premiere.
2. ‘The French Connection’
Rotten Tomatoes describes “The French Connection” as “realistic, fast-paced, and uncommonly smart,” adding that Hackman’s performance in it is “stellar.” The mystery thriller’s story features his portrayal of Popeye Doyle, a New York detective who pursues a French drug smuggler with is partner, who is played by Roy Scheider. The Academy says the sparkling film won five of the eight Oscars for which it was nominated.
1. ‘The Conversation’
“The Conversation” is in close contention with “The Godfather” for Francis Ford Coppola’s most widely admired work, with one fan calling it “god-tier” in a Reddit discussion. The BBC explains that the thriller, driven by an underlying sense of paranoia and dread, is more relevant today than ever before for the way it handles the topic of surveillance. Little White Lies praised Hackman’s performance in the film as a “masterful portrayal of alienation and loneliness.”
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