Gene Hackman is one of Hollywood’s great screen legends. His decades-spanning career
has included a huge variety of roles, movies, and awards. He’s won two Oscars, four Golden Globes,
and much more. In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, he went from a working actor to a bona fide star,
with two Academy Award nominations, and one win. The nominations were for his work in 1968’s Bonnie
and Clyde, and 1971’s I Never Sang For My Father. 1971 also saw him in the role that came to define
his stellar career, acting as Popeye Doyle in the classic police movie, The French Connection.
He won his first Oscar for that performance, and from then on, he was revered as one of the
finest actors of his generation. He continued acting in memorable roles and movies for the
next several decades, only further cementing his status as an icon. However, in 2004, in his 70’s,
he decided to hang it up. He hasn’t been in a movie since then, save for a couple of voiceover
performances. Instead, he’s been enjoying his retirement and pursuing other creative endeavors.
Recently he was spotted in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives, in a somewhat surprising vehicle
choice. So join Facts Verse, as we present: At 93 Years Old, This is the Car Gene Hackman Drives!
Gene and His Truck For residents of Santa Fe, New Mexico,
the site of a 93-year-old man popping into a gas station for a fill up and a bite is probably not
that uncommon. After all, it’s a popular spot to retire to, and it’s a part of the country where
trucks are popular. But they might be surprised when they discover that the person in question is
a legendary Hollywood star. Recently, Gene Hackman was spotted in Santa Fe, as he pulled up in a
Toyota Tundra. The actor looked fit, though the years have meant his body looks a lot more frail
than perhaps when we last saw him in movies. But he moved around quite well for someone in their
mid 90’s, and he certainly seems to be full with it, and at least somewhat active. Photos of the
spotting quickly moved around social media, not because they were controversial in the slightest,
but because of the love and adoration that millions of fans have for the long-time Hollywood
star. When he stopped acting a couple decades ago, ending his run of decades of work with
a comedy alongside Ray Romano, 2004’s “Welcome to Mooseport”, fans all over were left with the
sadness of his retirement. Hackman’s gravitas, charisma, and acting prowess always made movies
better, so the fact that we haven’t seen him on a screen in nearly 20 years is a bummer. Yet,
it was his choice to continue living out of the Hollywood spotlight, and we can respect
that. It seems that in life, just as with many of his roles, Gene Hackman does what he wants to do.
Hackman’s Truck Perhaps the most
intriguing part of seeing Hackman out and about in Santa Fe, apart from the fact that
he hadn’t been photographed in public for a while, was his vehicle of choice. Hackman
went for a classic Toyota Tundra. There have been three different generations of the truck,
and he was from its third. It was a Double Cab version that he’d done some customizations to.
For the truck enthusiasts among you, here are some specs for Gene’s Tundra. His truck has a
5.7-liter V8 engine, with rear-wheel drive. It has a power output of 375 horsepower,
and it is fitted with the TRD 4x4 Off-Road package. That package includes privacy glass
for the rear doors, TRD badging, and an engine skid plate. It also includes 18-inch TRD off-road
alloy wheels and Bilstein shock absorbers. He also had a truck cap added on from A.R.E.
Fighting After A Fender Bender You’d think that anyone unlucky
enough to get into a car accident with the legendary tough guy actor would know better
than to start any kind of altercation. And that’s especially true given the fact that Hackman is a
former Marine. So he definitely knows his way around hand-to-hand combat. At the same time,
you’d also assume that anyone who got in a fender bender with a Hollywood legend would recognize
him, get kind of excited, and maybe be super nice. Well, that wasn’t the case back in 2001, when Gene
got into an accident on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. The accident happened when, according to Hackman’s
lawyer, a man cut him off in traffic, and Gene was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting him. So
Gene rear ended the Volvo station wagon, causing slight damage. The other driver was clearly not
happy with the situation and jumped out of his car to confront Hackman. Then, he either didn’t
recognize Hackman, or he did, and didn’t care that he was confronting an acting legend. Because the
man started getting into a war of words with Hackman. Then, allegedly he used an anti-gay
epithet, prompting the actor to slug him several times in the face. And given that at the time,
Gene was 71, it was impressive that he was still willing and able to throw down. Apparently Hackman
got several punches in before the other guy gave him a knee to the groin, which knocked Hackman
to the ground. When it was all over, neither driver suffered too much more than bruised egos,
and their cars were both in fine shape. So the two ended up just driving away without filing police
reports or looking to press charges. Hackman’s reps said that the actor found the whole thing
amusing, more than anything. They pointed out that while Gene is generally gentle and kind, his rough
around the edges persona and his Marine training means you still don’t want to mess with him.
Gene Rolled a Car Hackman’s passion
for driving extended beyond his roles in movies. For example, in 1986, he competed in
a six-hour-long endurance race. The competition happened at Sears Point International Raceway,
a spot in Sonoma in northern California. At the time, Hackman was a 55 years old,
and was competing in an Audi Quantro he owned. Unfortunately, the car rolls on him,
after the brakes locked up part way through the race. It popped over onto its top,
effectively ending his participation in the race. Gene wasn’t hurt in the accident, though likely
pretty disappointed at having to drop out of the race mid-way through. He even joked with reporters
about it afterwards, remarking that at that moment he would have liked to have had a stunt driver.
Gene’s Retirement Gene’s retirement from acting wasn’t anything big
and ceremonial. But that shouldn’t be surprising knowing the legendary actor’s demeanor. Instead,
after the release of “Welcome to Mooseport” in 2004, where he plays a former president
running for mayor of a local town, opposite Ray Romano, he appeared on Larry King’s show
for an interview. During the interview, Hackman admitted that he didn’t have any projects lined
up. He also speculated that perhaps his acting career was over. A few years later, in 2008,
Hackman was interviewed during the release of one of his books. It was then that he finally
confirmed he’d officially retired. In 2011, GQ interviewed him and asked if there were
any scenarios that would prompt him to come out of retirement. Hackman entertained the question,
noting that if it was a film that could be shot in his own house, and one that wouldn’t really
disturb anything in the house, then he’d maybe do it. It also could only involve one or two people,
max. Given that the interview was more than a decade ago, it’s clear that either Hackman
was fully kidding, or no one decided to take him up on the offer. It’s a shame because it
would have been fascinating to not only see Hackman act again in his later years
but also to see the inside of his home! He did briefly come out of retirement,
in a way, to add his voice as the narrator for two documentaries. They were both about the Marine
Corps, a branch of the military Hackman clearly has high regard for, having served in it. In 2016,
he narrated The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima, and in 2017, he narrated We,
The Marines. But he hasn’t gone back on his decision not to act since his final movie in 2004.
Hackman’s Life Since Retirement Much of Gene’s time since retiring from
acting has been spent with his family, though he has also had a successful writing career as
well. He got his start by co-authoring three books with Daniel Lenihan, an undersea archaeologist.
One was released before his retirement – a sea-based historical adventure novel called,
Wake of the Perdido Star. That one came out in 1999. He also released a book the same year as
his final movie. That was one called Justice for None, and it revolved around a murder that
took place in the Depression era. Finally, he released Escape from Andersonville in 2008,
which told the tale of an Old West prison escape. After those three releases,
Hackman decided to try out some writing on his own. He released Payback at Morning Peak
in 2011, which was a revenge and love novel set in the Old West. Since then he has only released
one more novel, 2013’s Pursuit. In perhaps a nod to the role in The French Connection that
made him a household name (and won him his first Oscar) the novel is a police thriller.
Now it’s time to hear from you. Are you surprised that Gene Hackman retired so early? And are you
surprised by his choice of vehicle? Let us know in the comments section below!