You can see within his iconic performance in 'The Conversation' the mastery of his craft. Screen acting is all about reactions and to do so in a film in which large chunks of his part consist of him listening in on characters who have no idea they are being recorded is a testament to his genius. He is in effect acting with himself.

Quiet internal work that made his eruptions in 'The French Connection' and the ball twisting intensity in 'Mississippi Burning' so powerful. As a kid I first saw him in Xmas repeats of 'The Posiedon Adventure' which I loved. I loved disaster movies I think because I also wished to escape from where I was trapped. His Lex Luther made 'Superman' even more fun for a seven year old.

'The French Connection ' was released in the year of my birth and I am happy to that it still feels like a treat if I catch a bit of it late at night all these years on.

R.I.P Gene Hackman

You were more than a bit special. You were magnificent.