Claim: Gene Hackman was in a film.

Eugene Allen `` Gene '' Hackman -LRB- born January 30 , 1930 -RRB- is a retired American actor and novelist . In a career spanning nearly five decades , Hackman was nominated for five Academy Awards , winning Best Actor in The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor in Unforgiven . He won three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs .   He first came to fame in 1967 with his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde , in which he gained his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor . His major subsequent films include : I Never Sang for My Father -LRB- 1970 -RRB- , in which he gained his second Best Supporting Actor nomination ; The French Connection -LRB- 1971 -RRB- and French Connection II -LRB- 1975 -RRB- , in which he played Jimmy `` Popeye '' Doyle ; The Poseidon Adventure -LRB- 1972 -RRB- ; The Conversation -LRB- 1974 -RRB- ; Superman : The Movie -LRB- 1978 -RRB- , in which he played arch-villain Lex Luthor ; Hoosiers -LRB- 1986 -RRB- ; and Mississippi Burning -LRB- 1988 -RRB- , in which he gained his second Best Actor nomination .   His film roles during the 1990s featured : Unforgiven -LRB- 1992 -RRB- ; The Firm -LRB- 1993 -RRB- ; Crimson Tide -LRB- 1995 -RRB- ; Get Shorty -LRB- 1995 -RRB- ; The Birdcage -LRB- 1996 -RRB- ; and Enemy of the State -LRB- 1998 -RRB- Later roles included : Behind Enemy Lines -LRB- 2001 -RRB- ; and The Royal Tenenbaums -LRB- 2001 -RRB- . Hackman 's final film appearance to date was the romantic comedy Welcome to Mooseport in 2004 , co-starring comedian Ray Romano .