The beloved actor Gene Hackman has passed away. At 95 years old, along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog, the actor was found deceased in his home in Santa Fe.
While cinephiles will be quick to point out his award-winning turns in films like The French Connection, Unforgiven, and The Poseidon Adventure, for genre fans, and those of us who love comic book movies, Hackman is a big part of why both the 1978 Superman and 1982’s Superman II are classics. Yes, you don’t have either film without Christoper Reeve’s unforgettable performance in the title role. But, there’s no tension and conflict in those films without criminal mastermind Lex Luthor, a mere mortal who can bring Superman to his knees. Reeve may have made us believe a man could fly. But Hackman’s Lex Luthor made us believe the world in which Superman existed was real.
