The French Connection. Unforgiven. The Poseidon Adventure. Crimson Tide. Hoosiers. Gene Hackman is one of the most outstanding actors of this generation—or any generation. At the age of 95, he lived a remarkable life, one of acclaim and prestige. Regretfully, his death is clouded in mystery. His roles will be cherished for decades to come. His two Oscars will be on the cinephile's mantle forever.
Yet, among nerds, he will always be Lex Luthor.
Some nerds (and critics) thought Hackman's portrayal of Superman's criminal nemesis was part huckster and used car salesman. When it's that guy, Hollywood thought they were getting a more serious tone with grit and that signature gravely voice barking commands.
He was paired with Ned Beatty, another serious thespian. Yet, when faced against Christopher Reeve (to date, still the best Clark Kent/Kal-El combo platter), they became Abbott and Costello.
And you know what? DC Comics wouldn't have had any other way. It worked splendidly.
Critics loved the performance. “Gene Hackman is a tremendous Lex Luthor: the wisecracking villain and acting heavyweight that Superman deserved,” raved The Guardian. “The movie’s brightest moments are those very broad ones supplied by Mr. Hackman,” said The New York Times.
He was a sinister mastermind. He was self-indulgent and ruthless. He was cynical and possessed that unique type of derision that only comes with knowing you can take on a demigod and pose a serious threat. Yet, Gene Hackman still had the comedic timing that would make a Rolex on Don Rickles jealous.
Think about this: Richard Donner directed him. That's the guy who was behind The Omen in 1976. Mario Puzo wrote the script. That's the guy behind The Godfather. Nothing about Lex Luthor coming to the screen through the filter of The Godfather. How else does Marlon Brando join this cast and that movie?!
Yet Gene Hackman made that work. Every word mattered, and every scene worked. Hackman knew the "used car salesman" motif was necessary. Christopher Reeve was a brawny, angelic being on screen, but the role demanded a sleazeball. The guy wanted to be a landlord of California, despite "Otisburg." So, the slimmer Mr. Lu-THOR appeared, the better off we all were.
Why no one has done Lex Luthor like that
Admit it: When we were challenged to "believe a man can fly," every actor faced that task. Without Margot Kidder's harrowing screams, Christopher Reeve's bumbling and boldness in the same role, or Ned Beatty's foolish moments as the loyal henchman, no one would have believed.
Yet, the mad alchemist in his subterranean lair pulled it all together. Scott James Wells (Superboy) and Titus Welliver (Titans) would not have been believable with that script. Jesse Eisenberg (Batman v. Superman) and Kevin Spacey (Superman Returns) could not have been either. Jon Cryer (Supergirl) may have come close, and as much as Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) idolized Gene Hackman, even his near-perfect adaptation of Superman's foil doesn't come close.
Hackman's vision of Lex Luthor was without sacrifice. Much like Christopher Reeve's job as both a goofball fish out of water Clark Kent and a universe equalizer Kal-El, Hackman was 100% megalomaniac as he was 100% lunatic despot.
The mumbling "Thank God" would never be done in another Superman script. Not even Clancy Brown voicing Lex Luthor could do that any justice. Gene Hackman was beloved in that role. Ask someone who knew better than most of us.
Valerie Perrine, who many know as "Miss Tess-MACHER!" wrote:
It's fitting that Gene Hackman was the standard-bearer of this character, he did that in most of his films. Imagine anyone else playing opposite Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven), Will Smith (Enemy of the State), Denzel Washington (Crimson Tide), Russell Crowe (The Quick and the Dead), Kevin Costner (No Way Out) or Christopher Reeve.
He was gifted by St. Genesius and honored by every award organization on the planet. He was Gene Hackman. And he was our Lex Luthor.