Gene Hackman Biography

- Is born under the astrological star sign of Aquarius.

- Says that his childhood movie idol was Errol Flynn.

- Lied about his age in order to join the U.S. Marines at 16.

- Was jailed as a teenager in 1946 for stealing candy and soda from a store.

- Whilst a young, struggling actor in New York, he worked as a soda jerk in a pharmacy, and also as a furniture removal hand.

- Enjoys painting and writing fiction.

- Is only of only a few actors to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Role, after winning an Oscar for Best Actor. Others to do so include Jack Nicholson and Helen Hayes.

- Has played the role of fictional President three times; he played President in Superman (1978), Absolute Power (1997), and also in Welcome To Moose port (2004).

- Turned down the lead roles in Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of The Third Kind (1977) and Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981).

- Was the subject of the song “Gene Hackman” by Hoodoo Gurus.

- Even though he no longer smokes, he played the role of a chain-smoker in Heartbreakers (2001), using a special kind of cigarette that gives heavy smoke without inhaling.

- Was the first choice to play Hannibal Lector in Silence Of The Lambs.

- Has appeared in three legal dramas adapted from novels by John Grisham: The Firm (1993), The Chamber (1996) and Runaway Jury (2003).

- Says that watching his own films makes him very nervous.

- Was involved in a road rage incident in Hollywood in 2001 when two young men attacked him after he ran into their car.