‘Tough Guy’ Gene Hackman Made His Bones in Dramas — But His Comedic Chops Were Wildly Underrated

New York Post ^ | Feb. 27, 2025 | Johnny Oleksinski

[nickcarraway]

Words you see a lot on Gene Hackman’s extensive film resume: Lieutenant, Sergeant, Detective, Sheriff.

The movie star, who was found dead Wednesday at age 95 at home in New Mexico, was famous for playing admirals, generals, multiple (fictitious) presidents, coaches, a reverend, a senator and myriad other upright authority figures over his five-decade career in Hollywood.

But his portrayals, like his life, were full of fascinating contradictions. Popeye Doyle wasn’t just another detective, and Gene Hackman was not just another actor. Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California, in 1930 and eventually settled with his grandmother in Danville, Illinois.

[Big Red Badger]

That’s a Good one 👍

[Fledermaus]

Ha ha. Nice. Thanks.

The time thing is something I enjoy in general. Star Trek, Dr. Who, Twilight Zone, etc.

But Superman flying counter clockwise, yeah silly.

The Flash movie did the time thing. Okay but meh. Funny ending cameo.

[Lurker]

I remember it. A very fine performance.

L

[Az Joe]

Scarecrow, with Pacino, was one of those good, buddies on the road, ‘70s pics.

[Dr. Sivana]

The Flash movie did the time thing.

The Flash allowed changing the past kinda sorta, but by having an unlimited number of similar worlds in the multiverse, it made a new problem (shared by more recent comic books) . . . when you kill off a character, they don't stay dead. This has been a thing for sometime in comics, but in the past they resorted to seance's, guys with undefined mystic powers like Dr. Fate and Dr. Strange, the "fake" death (Superman can stop his own heart from beating with no bad effects), bolts of electricity (Lightning Lad). But they couldn't be tempted to snag a spare Superman from Earth #342, and hope that Earth #342 doesn't have Darkseid, Lex Luthor or Gorilla Grodd floating about (Mr. Mxyzptlk can likely go to whichever earth he likes, and may be torturing dozens of Supermen.)

Once Flash creator Gardner Fox came up with Earth-1 vs. Earth-2, to allow for new versions of old heroes, and to mitigate a number of anachronisms, he opened up a can of worms that can now never be closed.

[Dr. Sivana]

Now THIS is Lex Luthor:

[freepertoo]

Superman, thank God! I mean, get him!

[freepertoo]

He was bald at the end of Superman when he pulls off the wig. Love Ned Beatty’s subtle response. A lot of real talent in that movie.

[rxh4n1]

Duck, I says.

[clearcarbon]

"‘Tough Guy’ Gene Hackman Made His Bones in Dramas — But His Comedic Chops Were Wildly Underrated"


Admired his eloquence in Bite the Bullet.


"How do you like it, Mister?"

"Without conversation."

[foundedonpurpose]

Are you by chance referring to the “Duck of Death”?

[rxh4n1]

Yes. The Duck of Death.