Late Hollywood actor Gene Hackman was known for being sharp on set and for never holding back when it comes to confrontation – here are some of his biggest meltdowns
As well as some iconic films, Hollywood legend Gene Hackman was also known for being rather sharp on set and was never one to hold back from confrontation.
Earlier this week, Gene was found dead at his home, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog. The news was announced on February 27 and the family believe it was due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
As fans have looked back on Gene’s life, we have decided to take a deep dive into some of his more fiery moments after his former colleagues and co-stars have paid tribute to him, highlighting his some of his controversial moments.
Actor Bill Murray delivered an honest remembrance of his “The Royal Tenenbaums” co-star Gene on Thursday. He told Associated Press: “He was a tough nut, Gene Hackman. But he was really good. And he was really difficult, we can say it now, but he was a tough guy. Older, great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They’re really rough on them, and Gene was really rough on Wes. I used to kind of step in there and just try to defend my friend.”
One time the actor watched Gene “do like 25 takes where he did it perfectly with an actor who kept blowing it every single time.” Bill added: “Gene would do it perfectly, the other actor would blow it and I’d go like, ‘Oh, God.’ I was watching it going, ‘No wonder this guy wants to throttle people,’” Murray continued. “And then he sort of gave an ordinary performance and the other actor got it right and I thought Gene was going to throw the actor off the ledge of the building.”
In a previous interview, Bill previously spoke about Gene’s on-set antics an said: “I’ll stick up for Gene too… I’d hear these stories, like, ‘Gene threatened to kill me today.’ ‘He can’t kill you, you’re in a union.’ ‘Gene threatened to take all of us and set fire to us.’ ‘It’s a union shoot, it’s New York, he can’t set fire to you.”
Unique filmmaker William Friedkin really got under Gene’s skin during the making of his gritty 1971 cop drama The French Connection. The director wanted gene to embody a ruthless foul-mouthed and brutal cop.
However, Gene was known to be a have very liberal views and was extremely hesitant to used racist terms or portray violence of any sort during the role. This urged Friedkin to adopt some alternative methods of motivation which included constantly annoying him before every shot.
Recalling the experience in an episode of George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Friedkin said: “Gene did not really want to go to the dark side of that cop because Gene is very liberal, he didn’t take really well to using the N-word, and beating up suspects and all that, which was the truth about that cop. And Gene didn’t want to go there. Gene and I had a constant tug of war. Where I had to get him angry and he’s angry throughout that picture.”
One of his last-ever films, Gene faced another tense altercation which strangely enough turned into a lasting friendship. During the making of 2000 thriller Under Suspicion, Gene squared up to screenwriter W. Peter Iliff.
The film expert wrote in a column The Hollywood Reporter: “Gene Hackman angrily bolted out of his chair and came at me. I swear he wanted to throw a punch
“So I did the unthinkable. I blurted out to perhaps the best actor in the world how it was supposed to be said.
“My mind froze and everything sped up,’ as he recalled a documentary about Hackman that revealed he lied about his age to join the Marines at just 16, and how he’d pick fights with bigger guys at bars during his 20s.
“There I was, 6’4” and 30 years younger, and Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle was about to throw that punch. I stood my ground and growled, “Goddammit, Gene, how much longer do I have to sit here and listen to you f*** up my line?
“Gene Hackman stopped dead in his tracks. He gave me a look. And then he gave me a grin. That evening after rehearsal, Gene took me to dinner. Just the two of us. We became very good friends.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
