avg. user rating: 4.9 (36 votes)
Eugene Hackman was born in California in 1930 and was a marine for six years. Menial jobs and a journalism degree followed before taking up acting at 30. Along with fellow student Dustin Hoffman he was voted the least likely to succeed by his classmates at the Pasadena Playhouse. After moving to New York he won a role in the Warren Beatty vehicle Lilith, and Beatty remembered him when casting for Bonnie And Clyde. Hackman was Oscar-nominated for his portrayal of Buck Barrow and, despite being sixth choice for the part, won the best actor Oscar for his role as Popeye Doyle in The French Connection. Has always been renowned for putting in good performances even when the films have fared less well.
