Gene Hackman often played tough roles. BBC describes him as the actor "who had a truck driver's face, but became one of Hollywood's most profitable stars". As a young man, he was a soldier in the Marine Corps - but dismissed his military career with the words:
I have problems with authority, because I have problems with authority. I was not a good Marine Corps soldier.
Hackman made his first film role in "Lilith" where Warren Beatty also participated. Beatty saw to it that he got the role as Buck Barrow in "Bonnie and Clyde" in 1967, a role for which Hackman was Oscar-nominated.
Swedish film critic Gunnar Rehlin remembers him for a couple of iconic roles:
The first and foremost thing you think of when Gene Hackman is mentioned is "French Connection" from 1971 and "De skoningslösa" from 1992. They are real classics that still hold, much thanks to him, he says.
Wrote adventure novels
Gene Hackman, despite his tough-guy image, had no problem taking on more humorous roles in films like "Det våras för Frankenstein" and the "Superman" films where he played the supervillain Lex Luthor.
In 2004, he retired from Hollywood. In an interview, Hackman said it was on the advice of doctors, who meant that his heart should not be subjected to stress. Instead, he devoted himself to fishing, painting, and writing adventure novels, including "Justice for none" and "Wake of the Perdido Star".
Unclear circumstances
Gunnar Rehlin met Gene Hackman a couple of times at the Cannes Film Festival and remembers him as fun to talk to.
He will be remembered as a great actor, perhaps primarily for the slightly tough roles. His exciting and charismatic appearance suited them very well.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa - his wife for over 30 years - were found dead on Wednesday afternoon local time. They were discovered at home in the community of Santa Fe Summit northeast of the city of Santa Fe in New Mexico.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths are still unclear.
Gene Hackman was 95 years old.
Born 1930 in San Bernardino, California.
As a young man, Hackman joined the Marine Corps before taking a degree in journalism and TV production at the University of Illinois.
He got his breakthrough in "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967).
Known, among other things, for roles in films like "Avlyssningen" (1974), "Wyatt Earp" (1994), "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001), "Mississippi brinner" (1988), and "De skoningslösa" (1992).
For the latter, he was awarded an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He had already won an Oscar, for Best Actor for "French Connection" from 1971.
