Gene Hackman was the blue collar common man on screen. It was no act. I did *** lot of things. I sold shoes. I drove *** truck, drove *** cab. I jerk sodas. He grew up loving movies starring Jimmy Cagney and Edward G. Robinson. My mother and I were at *** film once and she said, I want to see you do that someday. And that was all that was needed at the Pasadena Playhouse. The aspiring actor met another young actor, Dustin Hoffman. The two were voted least likely to succeed. That all changed when he was cast in Bonnie and Clyde. Hackman was nominated for an Oscar, the first of numerous. Anti-hero roles from the 1960s on. The acclaim covered up *** potential career disaster. He was fired from The Graduate starring his pal Hoffman after just two weeks as Mr. Robinson. I thought it was like the beginning of the end for me. Hackman pressed on *** ski coach in downhill racer. Not in Marooned and *** 2nd Best Supporting Actor nomination for I Never Sang for My Father. There were tensions on set with father Melvyn Douglas, who had wanted another co-star. In real life, Hackman's own father left the family when he was just 13. When you decide to do *** role, you choose both the good and the bad. That that's happened to you and you try to make that come alive as fierce New York City police detective Popeye Doyle, *** defiant hackman, burst through the screen in the French Connection. He didn't like playing *** bigot beating up people. I wanted to be fired from the film the first couple of days because I was very uncomfortable. Also testing his nerves, driving in one of the most famous car chases in movie history. They would go right down the street without any crowd control, and it was really scary. The role he wanted out of won him an Oscar for Best Actor in 1972. The award ignited *** monumental film by gra ph y from the Poseidon Adventure. You need to stand aside and close that door to keep the air from coming in, or you can try to stop me to the conversation. One surefire rule that I have learned in this business is that I don't know anything about human nature. I don't know anything about curiosity. It wasn't always deadly serious in Young Frankenstein. What is your name? Mm, I didn't get that. And there was Superman. Oh yes, of course you've been there. I do forget you get around, don't you? Now *** huge star, Hackman said he always liked the idea of Hollywood, but not the hoopla. Personality wise, I don't fit in. Hackman said his favorite film was the offbeat Scarecrow with Al Pacino, which was not *** commercial hit. I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we're going to be winners. He was the basketball coach in Hoosiers, one of the best sports films ever made. was nominated for an Oscar again for Mississippi Burning. smile when the bulldozer in over the black kid's body. Get here. He won Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven. When he fires that, take out your pistols and shoot him down like *** mangy scoundrel he is. It kind of puts *** book into my career for me. I'm sure I'll do other films, but I can kind of relax as long as Dustin doesn't get another one country. Yes, I didn't figure for *** patriot, Mr. Roar. Hackman finally did get to work with his lifelong friend in runaway jury. I've loved every minute of my career. There's been, you know, tough times, of course, but I like the process so much.