Gene Hackman dies at 95 alongside his wife: See the Oscar-winning actor's career

Seen here on Jan. 16, 1972, the multi-talented actor and novelist Hackman infused humanity and his trademark laugh into even his villain roles, a particular specialty in his four-decade film career – from the gleefully meglomanic Lex Luthor in the "Superman" franchise, his nuke-happy submarine commander in 1995's "Crimson Tide,"  his conniving secretary of defense in 1987's "No Way Out," a deadly corporate lawyer in "The Firm" his sleazy B-movie director in 1995's "Get Shorty" and his loathsome sheriff in his Oscar-winning "Unforgiven" role. The versatile craftsman brought unbowed sincerity to his role as a small-town Indiana basketball coach in the beloved 1986 drama "Hoosiers" as well as pure comedy to 2001's "The Royal Tenenbaums" and an unforgettable cameo in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein."

Gene Hackman won the best actor Oscar in 1972 for his role as Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in "The French Connection."

Gene Hackman holds the Cecil B. DeMille award presented to him by Robin Williams, left, and Michael Caine for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field" during the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 19, 2003.

Gene Hackman poses backstage with his Cecil B. deMille award during the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 19, 2003, in Beverly Hills, California.

Gene Hackman, who got the racing bug while filming "The French Connection," was a celebrity racecar driver. He won races at Watkins Glen and Long Beach. He's seen here on March 14, 1981, leaning against a Toyota Celica at Long Beach, California.

Gene Hackman starred as the patriarch of the Tenenbaum family in Wes Anderson's 2001 film "The Royal Tenenbaums" along with (from left to right) Luke Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Grant Rosenmeyer, Jonah Meyerson, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover and Kumar Pallana.

Actors Gene Hackman, left, and Ben Stiller, stars of the new comedy film "The Royal Tenenbaums," pose at the film's premiere Dec. 6, 2001, in Los Angeles.

The cast of "The Royal Tenenbaums" poses at the film's premiere: From left, Luke Wilson, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Ben Stiller, Kumar Pallana, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jonah Meyerson, Irene Gorovaia, in Los Angeles on Dec. 6, 2001.

Co-stars Gene Hackman, right, and Anjelica Huston hug as they meet at the premiere of their film "The Royal Tenenbaums" in Los Angeles on Dec. 6, 2001.

Gene Hackman starred in the 1986 film "Hoosiers" as a small town Indiana high school basketball coach vying for the state championship.

Actors Sigourney Weaver and Gene Hackman act in a scene from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures' comedy "Heartbreakers."

Monica Bellucci, Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman, right, pose during the photocall of Stephen Hopkins' movie "Under Suspicion" on May 11, 2000, in Cannes, France.

Gene Hackman signs a poster from his movie "The French Connection" at a Borders book store in Chicago April 28, 2000. Hackman was in Chicago to sign copies of his first novel, "Perdido Star" with co-author, underwater archeologist Daniel Lenihan, left.

Gene Hackman, wife Betsy, along with daughters Leslie, and Elizabeth attend the premiere of "The Chamber" on Oct. 2, 1996, in Beverly Hills, California.

Gene Hackman, Will Smith and Jon Voight arrive at the premiere of the movie "Enemy of the State" in Washington, DC., on Nov. 16 1998.

Gene Hackman on the set of the movie "Absolute Power" with director Clint Eastwood in 1997.

Gene Hackman played USS Alabama submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey in the 1995 action thriller “Crimson Tide.”

Gene Hackman played "Little" Bill Daggett in the 1992 film "Unforgiven."

Gene Hackman holds his Oscar after winning the award for best supporting actor for his role in "Unforgiven" at the 65th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Gene Hackman, left, and actress Marisa Tomei pose with their Oscars March 29, 1993, shortly after being respectively awarded best supporting actor and best supporting actress. Hackman won for his role in "Unforgiven" and Tomei for "My Cousin Vinny."

Monica Bellucci, center, gathers her dress as she arrives on the red carpet with Gene Hackman, left, and director Stephen Hopkins, right, as Morgan Freeman follows. Hopkins and his cast arrived for the midnight screening of their film "Under Suspicion," an official selection shown out of competition at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival.

Film director Arthur Penn listens to Gene Hackman during the filming of "Target," on Jan. 7 1985, at Roissy airport in France.

Gene Hackman poses backstage at the Academy Awards ceremony in 1972 with his Oscar for best actor in the film "The French Connection" with Jane Fonda, who won the best actress Oscar for her role in "Klute."

Raquel Welch, left, Gene Hackman and Cloris Leachman (holding her best supporting actress Oscar) at the 44th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on April 17, 1972.

Gene Hackman and Raquel Welch congratulate Liza Minnelli on receiving best actress Oscar for her role in "Cabaret" during the 1972 Academy Awards ceremony.

American actor, Gene Hackman in London on Sept. 7, 1973.

Gene Hackman in a scene from the 1974 motion picture "The Conversation."