Eugene
Allen "Gene" Hackman (born January 30, 1930) is a
two-time Academy Award-winning American actor. He came to fame
during the 1970s, after his role in The French Connection, and
continued to appear in major roles in Hollywood films, including
Harry Caul in The Conversation, Norman Dale in Hoosiers and Brill
in Enemy of the State. Hackman has an ability to disappear into
the roles he plays, blending a character actor aesthetic with his
leading man status. He is also versatile, able to deliver
hard-edged performances in The French Connection and Mississippi
Burning as well as convincing comedic turns in fare such as The
Birdcage and The Royal Tenenbaums. Together with undersea
archaeologist Daniel Lenihan, Hackman also wrote two novels: Wake
of the Perdido Star (1999) and Justice for None (2004). His final
film to date was the critically panned Welcome to Mooseport. His
distinctive voice can be heard in television commercials from
time-to-time, notably for United Airlines, GTE, CNN, and more
recently for Oppenheimer Funds and Lowe's Home Improvement ... more
