A real tragedy, the legendary actor Gene Hackman was found dead in his home along with his wife and their dog. Circumstances are unclear at this time, Hackman was 95.
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Hackman won an Academy Award in 1972 for his role as tough detective Popeye Doyle in "The French Connection", and again in 1993 for his role in "Unforgiven" with Clint Eastwood. He was nominated twice more.
I never met Gene, but did have the privilege of meeting his longtime friend and former roommate, Robert Duvall. I was not aware that they had lived together at one time, and I mentioned to Mr. Duvall ("Call me Bob" he said!) that I really enjoyed his role in "The Twilight Zone" episode "Miniature." He had a huge line of people, and he stopped signing the item in front of him and said "Did you see that? I'm glad....Rod Serling was a genius, and he decided to give me a shot. I'm grateful he did. I was living in New York with Gene and Dusty, and I had just done "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I didn't talk in that! I got to talk in Twilight Zone!" I was of course blown away, and I realized that he was talking about Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman as his roommates! Those three men have been in countless movies and TV shows, and have won a combined total of (Hoffman won in 1980 for "Kramer Vs. Kramer" and 1989 for "Rain Man" and Duvall won in 1984 for "Tender Mercies"). A lot of talent in one NYC apartment in the early-mid 60s!
