The Film Star Who Sparked Gene Hackman’s Acting Dream
Gene Hackman’s passion for acting was ignited by a classic Errol Flynn film, setting him on a path to Hollywood stardom and two Academy Awards.
Every performer has that pivotal moment when the spark is lit, and for Gene Hackman, it happened as a young lad in the late 1930s. Sitting in a darkened cinema, he found himself completely swept up by the charisma of a certain leading man. The film’s title has faded from memory, but the impact of Errol Flynn’s presence on screen stuck with him for life.
Discovering the Magic of Performance
Hackman described the experience as almost otherworldly. Watching Flynn, he felt as though he’d become the swashbuckling star himself.
“It was an Errol Flynn picture that did it. Anyway, I’m watching this Errol Flynn picture, and all of a sudden I’m Errol Flynn. Then the movie’s over, I’m leaving the auditorium, still being Errol Flynn, and I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror in the theatre lobby.”
That moment in the lobby, seeing his own reflection, snapped him back to reality. He realised he was just a kid, not the dashing hero he’d imagined. Yet, the feeling lingered.
“And I stop cold. I’m looking at myself in the mirror, and I’m this little kid, I’m no more Errol Flynn than the man in the moon, and then I ignore the mirror image, and I’m still Errol Flynn, at least, that’s how I feel.”
Chasing the Dream
That day, Hackman understood the true power of acting. The idea that films could create such a convincing illusion fascinated him.
“That’s where and when it dawned on me: If the movies can engender this powerful illusion of realism, then regardless of what I look like, I can be anybody I want to be. I became fascinated with acting, got a job working in a theatre when I was old enough, about age 14, and never really wanted any other career.”
Inspired by Flynn and also admiring James Cagney, Hackman set his sights on the stage and screen as soon as he could.
He started out working in a theatre as a teenager, keen to soak up every bit of the craft. It wasn’t until 1959 that he landed his first television role, appearing in episodes of The United States Steel Hour. A few years later, he finally made it to the big screen, just as he’d always hoped.
From Inspiration to Icon
Hackman’s breakthrough came with a supporting part in Bonnie and Clyde, which earned him his first Oscar nomination. Just four years on, he took home his first Academy Award for his role in The French Connection. He’d achieved what he set out to do—become a Hollywood mainstay, much like the stars he’d idolised as a boy.
His career spanned decades, with another Oscar win for Unforgiven, directed by Clint Eastwood. Ironically, Flynn himself never received an Academy Award nomination, so in a way, Hackman surpassed his childhood hero. His journey from a wide-eyed kid in the audience to a celebrated actor is a testament to the lasting influence of cinema’s golden age.