Remembering Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman acted in hit films from five decades. While not looking like a traditional leading man, Hackman was a perfect fit for the new Hollywood in the late 60s and early 70s, starring in Bonnie and Clyde, I Never Sang for My Father, The French Connection (for which he won his first Oscar), Scarecrow and The Conversation. Hackman proved equally memorable in big blockbusters such as The Poseidon Adventure and his iconic turn as Lex Luthor in Superman: The Movie. He moved seamlessly into the 80s with Reds, Under Fire, No Way Out, Mississippi Burning and another seminal role in Hoosiers. In the 90s he won a second Oscar for Unforgiven, while also co-starring with Tom Cruise in The Firm, Denzel Washington in Crimson Tide, and Will Smith in Enemy of the State. Hackman's last bravura performance came in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums.

After his recent death at age 95, we'll discuss Hackman's incredible versatility and the everyman quality he brought to so many roles.