TOP 10 – Gene Hackman was one of the most versatile and respected character actors in film history. His straightforward, no-frills acting style was highly valued by both critics and audiences. Hackman was renowned for his ability to embody the everyman, someone viewers could easily relate to, a quality he showcased in more than 80 films throughout his career.

Over the course of his more than 50-year film career, Hackman’s nuanced performances earned him numerous accolades. He received five Academy Award nominations, winning twice—first for The French Connection (1971), directed by William Friedkin, and again for Clint Eastwood’s western Unforgiven (1992). He won three Golden Globe Awards from eight nominations and was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. He was also a two-time nominee for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, winning once.

His final film, Welcome to Mooseport (2004), marked his retirement from acting, after which he turned to writing thriller novels. On February 26, 2025, Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe home—21 years after his last screen appearance.

At the age of 95, Hackman left behind an extraordinary body of work. In tribute to his legacy, we look back and rank his 10 greatest performances, including his Oscar-winning roles, as well as classics like Bonnie and Clyde, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Conversation, and Mississippi Burning.

10. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

In one of Wes Anderson’s best films, Hackman stars as Royal Tenenbaum, the questionable patriarch of an eccentric New York family. His children—business mogul Chas, esteemed playwright Margot, and former tennis star Richie—each peaked early in life and now struggle to find purpose. As Royal’s ex-wife Etheline considers remarriage, he returns to the family home after being evicted from his hotel, setting off a new round of elaborate schemes. Hackman’s portrayal earned him his third Golden Globe Award.

9. Young Frankenstein (1974)

Though he only appears in a single scene, Hackman’s performance as the Blind Hermit in Mel Brooks’ classic comedy remains one of the most unforgettable moments of his career. The humor comes from the blind man’s obliviousness to the creature’s terrifying appearance, treating him as a welcomed guest. But the role is also deeply touching—Hackman infuses the character with a profound loneliness that momentarily lifts when someone, anyone, finally arrives. His joy at offering dinner and cigars is heartwarming, making it all the more poignant when his new friend leaves. *”Where are you going? I was going to make espresso.”*

8. No Way Out (1987)

In Roger Donaldson’s political thriller, Hackman plays Secretary of Defense David Brice, who is impressed by the bravery of Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell (Kevin Costner) and recruits him for a job at the Pentagon. Unbeknownst to Brice, Farrell is having a secret affair with Brice’s mistress, Susan Atwell (Sean Young)—but their relationship may have deeper implications. Hackman masterfully plays the role of a high-ranking bureaucrat, bringing a simmering tension to his scenes with Costner that adds to the film’s suspense.

7. Night Moves (1975)

During the brief resurgence of film noir in the 1970s, Arthur Penn—who had previously directed Hackman in Bonnie and Clyde—delivered this overlooked gem steeped in the genre’s traditions. Hackman stars as private investigator Harry Moseby, whose personal life is crumbling after discovering his wife (Susan Clark) is having an affair. He takes on a case to locate a runaway teenager (Melanie Griffith), but she has no interest in being found. Hackman gives his detective a world-weary yet sharp-edged demeanor, creating a complex and deeply engaging performance. This role earned him his third BAFTA nomination.

6. I Never Sang for My Father (1970)

Hackman’s second Academy Award nomination came for his role in Gilbert Cates’ adaptation of Robert Anderson’s play. In this family drama, he plays Gene Garrison, a widowed college professor still living under the shadow of his domineering father, Tom (Melvyn Douglas). Though Gene is desperate to move forward and remarry, he is consumed with guilt over leaving his aging father behind. As a trained stage actor, Hackman rarely appeared in direct play-to-film adaptations, making I Never Sang for My Father one of the best examples of his theatrical intensity translated onto the screen.

5. Mississippi Burning (1988)

Unlike much of his filmography, which often avoided overtly political themes, Hackman took on a charged role in this gripping crime drama. Loosely inspired by real events from 1964, the film follows two FBI agents investigating the disappearance of three civil rights workers in Mississippi. Hackman plays Agent Rupert Anderson, who, alongside his partner Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe), navigates the town’s deep-seated racism while attempting to uncover the truth. While the film received criticism for its fictionalization, Hackman’s performance—alongside Dafoe and Frances McDormand—was widely praised. This role earned him his fourth Oscar nomination and sixth Golden Globe nod.

4. The Conversation (1974)

In a rare Oscar anomaly, Francis Ford Coppola directed two Best Picture nominees in the same year: The Conversation and The Godfather Part II (which ultimately won). But don’t overlook The Conversation or Hackman’s lead performance. As Harry Caul, a reclusive surveillance expert, he records what seems like an ordinary conversation, only to realize it may be linked to a murder. Hackman delivers one of his most restrained yet powerful performances, portraying Caul as a man unraveling under the weight of paranoia and self-imposed isolation. His performance earned him his second Golden Globe nomination.

3. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Though Hackman had played minor roles before, it was this classic crime drama that cemented his place in Hollywood. As Buck Barrow, Clyde’s (Warren Beatty) older brother, Hackman gives a layered performance as a man reluctantly drawn into his sibling’s crime spree alongside Bonnie (Faye Dunaway). Buck’s internal conflict—his loyalty to family versus his unease with their criminal lifestyle—adds depth to the film. Meanwhile, he’s constantly dealing with the high-strung antics of his wife, Blanche (Oscar-winner Estelle Parsons). This breakthrough role earned Hackman his first Academy Award nomination.

2. Unforgiven (1992)

Clint Eastwood’s revisionist western is widely regarded as one of the genre’s last great masterpieces, and Hackman’s portrayal of corrupt sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett is one of its standout performances. Although he is nominally the town’s lawman, Little Bill is a ruthless autocrat who uses his position to maintain control. Despite his villainous role, Hackman’s nuanced performance humanizes him enough that viewers can’t help but feel a sliver of sympathy. For this role, Hackman won his second Academy Award and second Golden Globe.

1. The French Connection (1971)

If there’s one role that defines Hackman’s legacy, it’s his portrayal of NYPD Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in this hard-hitting crime thriller. Alongside his partner Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider), Doyle tracks a massive heroin smuggling operation linked to a French drug kingpin. While the gripping plot and William Friedkin’s kinetic direction make the film a classic, it’s Hackman’s electric performance that stands out. Doyle is a rough, relentless cop who operates on the fringes of legality but is utterly determined to catch his prey. This role won Hackman his first Academy Award and his first Golden Globe.

-Gergely Herpai „BadSector”-