6 Things You Never Knew About Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman, born on January 30, 1930, is one of those Hollywood legends who seems larger than life. And though he retired from acting in 2004, Hackman has kept busy as a novelist, writing several books. In a rare 2009 interview, he revealed that a stress test was the deciding factor in his retirement, as doctors warned him that his heart wasn’t in the kind of shape needed to handle the pressure of a film career.

Despite briefly considering returning to acting in 2011, he has remained fully retired, only lending his voice to a couple of documentaries. Now 95, Hackman is reportedly in good health and enjoying a quiet life in New Mexico. While most people know him for his iconic roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, here are six things you may not have known about the legendary Gene Hackman, including his humble beginnings.