Gene Hackman: The Oscar Winner Who Swapped Hollywood for Novels
So, let’s talk about Gene Hackman, the legendary actor whose cinematic chops charmed audiences for decades. Not just a two-time Oscar winner for classics like “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” Hackman also donned another hat: novelist! Talk about a multitasker. After pulling the curtain on his acting career in 2004, he took a plunge into the literary world, finding solace and relevance in storytelling.
Hackman’s writing journey kicked off with his historical novel “Wake of the Perdido Star” in 1999. This book, about a young lad who decides piracy is the way to go, was the first of three collaborations with his pal, archaeologist Daniel Lenihan. The literary duo also gifted us “Justice for None” in 2004, following a World War I vet grappling with the loss of his wife, and “Escape from Andersonville,” which showcased a Union officer’s plight during the Civil War, published in 2008.
But Hackman wasn’t done yet. He flexed his solo writing muscles as well, releasing “Payback at Morning Peak” in 2011, a gripping Western where vengeance is the name of the game, and “Pursuit” in 2013, a crime thriller that follows a female cop in hot pursuit of a relentless killer. In his own words from a 2014 interview, he recognized that writing was, “my way of staying relevant.”
Born to a family with deep ties to the writing world—father, uncle, and grandfather all connected to journalism—it’s no wonder he felt the itch to create. Even while crafting audition pieces, Hackman’s love for writing began to blossom. He once told Empire, “It’s very relaxing for me,” proving that storytelling was his balm after leaving Hollywood fame behind.
In a world where many stars fade after their final curtain call, Hackman brilliantly reinvented himself and gave us more to appreciate. His novels may not rival his filmwork in fame, but they add an intriguing depth to the life of a man who refused to fade quietly into the sunset.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Empire Magazine, The New York Times
Image Credit: Title: Untitled, Author: No author info, License: [‘cc_publicdomain’, ‘cc_attribute’, ‘cc_sharealike’]
