Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Gene Hackman Biography

Birth Name:Eugene Allen Hackman

Birth Place:San Bernardino, California, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack, Producer, Stunts

Fast Facts

An avid racer, he has won the Long Beach Grand Prix Celebrity Race
Won the Silver Bear award for Best Actor at the 1989 Berlin International Film Festival for his work in "Mississippi Burning․"
Began to pursue a career in acting by joining the Pasadena Playhouse in 1956
Quote: "I was trained to be an actor, not a star․ I was trained to play roles, not to deal with fame and agents and lawyers and the press․"
Quote: "The difference between a hero and a coward is one step sideways․"
Known for his preference to work with little-to-no rehearsal beforehand
Along with friend Dustin Hoffman, he was voted "The Least Likely To Succeed" by his classmates at the Pasadena Playhouse
Has co-written historical fiction novels "Wake of the Perdido Star," "Justice for None" and "Escape from Anderson․"
Has turned down various lead roles over the years, including parts in "Pearl Harbor," "Jaws," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," etc
Joined the U․S․ Marine Corps at the age of 16, and served for over four years as a field radio operator

Awards

1968Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1968NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1969NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1971Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1971KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1971NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
1971NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1972Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
1972Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
1972NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1973BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
1974NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
1974NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1975Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1975NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1975Sant Jordi-Best Performance in a Foreign Film (Mejor Interpretación en Película Extranjera): winner
1976BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
1976Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1976Bronze Wrangler-Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
1979BAFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1982NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1984Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1988LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1988NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
1988NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1989Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1989Silver Berlin Bear-Best Actor: winner
1989CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1989David-Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero): nominated
1989Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1989NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1990Jupiter Award-Best International Actor: nominated
1992ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1992BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1992KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1992LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1992NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1993Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1993BAFTA Film Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
1993CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1993DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1993Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: winner
1993NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1993Bronze Wrangler-Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
1994Bronze Wrangler-Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
1996American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1996CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: winner
1997Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy: winner
1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Action/Adventure: nominated
2001ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2001ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2001BSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002AFI Award-Featured Actor of the Year - Male - Movies: winner
2002CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
2002Sierra Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002NSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
2002OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2002PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2013Felix-Best Supporting Actor: nominated