Gene Hackman is one of the most prolific actors ever! He's made over 80 movies. He was a stage actor for many years before going to Hollywood.
He's won countless awards, including three Oscars. He was one of the most popular actors around. He could play anything. He did tough and mean and kind and funny.
Oh, and he's a novelist. He's written three books.
Around 2005 he seemed to disappear. No movies. No press. I wondered if he was ill - but then in 2008 his latest book "Escape from Andersonville," a Civil War novel, was released and he did a book tour.
Then I learned that he had announced on Larry King in 2004 that he was retiring from acting.
The reason I didn't know this sooner was because nobody in the media picked up on it. Not the tabloids, not the papers, not "Entertainment Tonight." Nothing.
Why? My guess is because he's old and he never was good at making trouble in real life like he did on the screen.
Today is Gene Hackman's 80th birthday.
Happy Birthday big guy. We miss seeing you but still enjoy reading you. So don't give that up any time soon.
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