During his amazing career, Gene Hackman appeared in a ton of classic films, taking on roles that turned into legends. Who could possibly forget him as Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) or Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde (1967)? But in a 2021 chat with the New York Post, he mentioned there was one movie he just wouldn’t watch again.

Gene Hackman chose not to revisit The French Connection

One of Gene's standout performances, which earned him his first Oscar for Best Actor, was in the 1971 crime drama The French Connection, directed by William Friedkin. This film, adapted from Robin Moore's 1969 nonfiction book, features Gene as Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle. Even though it's one of his most iconic roles, Gene mentioned in an interview that he hasn't felt the urge to watch it again.

He only saw the film once, right after it was made, and that was plenty for him, as he shared in an email. He recalled, “I haven’t seen the film since that first screening in a small, dark room at a post-production company 50 years ago. I’m not sure what its legacy is. Back then, it felt like a respectful tale of a cop who managed to take down a major crime family trying to break into the New York drug scene.”

Gene recognized that The French Connection was “a highlight in a career filled with ups and downs,” and he expressed his gratitude for how it boosted his career. In 1975, he returned to the role in John Frankenheimer’s sequel, French Connection II.

Gene Hackman's passing and his lasting impact

Gene was discovered deceased in his Santa Fe residence on Thursday, alongside his wife, classical musician Betsy Akaway, and their dog. He was 95 years old. Gene had been a familiar face on screen from the 1960s until he stepped back from acting after the 2004 political satire, Welcome To Mooseport.

Francis Ford Coppola, who directed him in The Conversation, shared on Instagram, “The loss of a great artist is always a reason for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman was a remarkable actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss and celebrate his life and contributions.”

In 2008, Gene shared with Reuters that he really missed the “actual acting part of it.” He went on to say, “But the business side is super stressful for me. The compromises you have to deal with in films are just part of the game, and it reached a point where I just didn’t feel like continuing.”

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