One of the most versatile and well-respected actors in American cinema, Gene Hackman has enjoyed a productive career that has spanned over five decades and encompassed stage, television and features. Beginning as a reliable character player, the unglamorous Midwesterner assumed the unlikely mantle of leading man in the 1970s. Despite periods of "retirement" (one brought on by health problems), Hackman, who excels at portraying "regular guys" caught up in extraordinary circumstances, remains a much sought-after player.

Born Eugene Hackman in San Bernardino, California, he endured a nomadic