THE legendary actor Gene Hackman, who received two Academy Awards in a career that spanned six decades, has died at the age of 95.
The wide-ranging, talented actor was the lead actor for one of the best sports movies of all time in Hoosiers, which was based on a true story.
The 1986 film Hoosiers was loosely based on an Indiana high school basketball team in the 1950s.
Hackman played the role of coach Norman Dale, a man who was given a second chance at coaching following his first stint that saw him strike one of his players a few years earlier.
He goes on to lead the small, rural school to the Indiana high school basketball tournament, winning the state championship title on a buzzer-beater shot by star player Jimmy Chitwood, played by Maris Valainis.
The movie was based on the 1954 Milan High School state championship run, nicknamed The Milan Miracle.
Also, both the fictional and real-life teams won the state championship game by only a two-point difference.
The last shot in Hoosiers was made from almost an identical spot on the court as the one in the 1954 game.
And the final game in the film was filmed at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse, the same gymnasium that hosted the real-world championship game.
However, unlike the on-screen storyline, the Milan team entered the season as a heavy favorite and unsurprisingly lifted the trophy in the final game.
Hackman believed the flick would end his career, but the movie has been praised ever since.
In 2020, Hoosiers was voted as the best sports film of all time.
It’s also the No. 4 sports movie per the American Film Institute.
A five-time Oscar nominee, Hackman’s breakout performance came in 1968 in Bonnie and Clyde.
In 1972, he received the Best Actor award for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection.
Twenty-one years later, Hackman scooped up the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the Western film Unforgiven.
Celebs Who Have Hosted The Oscars The Most
Bob Hope – 19 Times Billy Crystal – 9 Times Johnny Carson – 5 Times Jimmy Kimmel, Whoopi Goldberg, Jack Lemmon – 4 Times Steve Martin, Jerry Lewis, David Niven – 3 TimesHe also starred in the 2000 hit sports comedy The Replacements.
His last film appearance was in Welcome to Mooseport in 2004, where he played Monroe Cole.
Hackman was found dead with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and family dog in their luxury New Mexico home.
Police have not revealed a cause of death, but the film star’s family believes the couple may have been poisoned in a suspected gas leak.
The investigation continues to be ongoing.
Hackman’s death comes just four days before this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.
AlamyHackman earned the Best Actor award for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in 1972’s The French Connection[/caption] GettyHackman was found dead with his wife Betsy Arakawa on Wednesday[/caption] Read More Details
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