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Although Gene Hackman, who died at age 95<\/a>, was one of Hollywood\u2019s most enduring and recognizable stars, it was nearly impossible to put the actor in a box. In a five-decade career, he portrayed cops, villains and men of the cloth, in thrillers, comedies and superhero blockbusters.<\/p>\n His accolades included two Academy Awards and four Golden Globes, including, in 2003, the Cecil B. DeMille Award<\/a> for outstanding contributions to entertainment.<\/p>\n Here are some of his most notable performances.<\/p>\n Hackman\u2019s breakout role was as Jimmy \u201cPopeye\u201d Doyle, a cop investigating a heroin deal in William Friedkin\u2019s \u201cThe French Connection.\u201d Hackman won the best actor Academy Award for this performance, and critics immediately recognized his star quality. Stephen Farber, reviewing the movie for The Times<\/a>, said that Hackman had brought \u201ca new kind of police hero\u201d to the screen. His character was \u201cbrutal, racist, foulmouthed, petty, compulsive, lecherous,\u201d Farber wrote, \u201cbut even at his most appalling, he is recognizably human.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream, rent or buy it on Prime<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Apple TV<\/a> or Fandango<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hackman followed up \u201cThe French Connection\u201d with three movies in 1972, including \u201cThe Poseidon Adventure<\/a>,\u201d directed by Ronald Neame, about an ill-fated ocean liner\u2019s final voyage. Hackman played a minister who leads the other frantic passengers to safety.<\/p>\n Stream, rent or buy it on Apple TV<\/a>, Prime<\/a>, Fandango<\/a> or YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the 1970s, Hackman became known as one of Hollywood\u2019s hardest-working actors, completing movies at a frenetic pace, as shown by his appearances in the \u201cSuperman<\/a>\u201d franchise. While filming his role as arch-villain Lex Luthor for the first installment, Hackman simultaneously shot his scenes for that movie\u2019s sequel, \u201cSuperman II.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream, rent or buy it on Max<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Fandango<\/a>, Apple TV<\/a> or Prime<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hackman won his second Oscar \u2014 a best supporting actor award in 1993 \u2014 for \u201cUnforgiven,\u201d in which he played a sadistic small-town sheriff who comes up against a string of bounty hunters, including one played by Clint Eastwood. In The Times review<\/a> of the film, Vincent Canby said that Hackman \u201cdelights\u201d in the role, and he noted a shift for the performer: \u201cNo more Mr. Good Guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream, rent or buy it on Prime<\/a>, Fandango<\/a>, Apple TV<\/a> or YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hackman also won acclaim playing in comedies. In 2001, he starred in Wes Anderson\u2019s \u201cThe Royal Tenenbaums\u201d as a disbarred lawyer who tries to reconcile with his eccentric children. A.O. Scott, reviewing the movie for The Times<\/a>, said that Hackman had \u201cthe amazing ability to register belligerence, tenderness, confusion and guile within the space of a few lines of dialogue. You never know where he\u2019s going, but it always turns out to be exactly the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream, rent or buy it on Apple TV<\/a>, Prime<\/a>, Fandango<\/a> or YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u2018The French Connection\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u2018The Poseidon Adventure\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u2018Unforgiven\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u2018The Royal Tenenbaums\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n