“I suppose I wanted to be an actor from the time I was about 10, maybe even younger than that. Recollections of early movies that I had seen and actors that I admired like James Cagney, Errol Flynn, those kind of romantic action guys. When I saw those actors, I felt I could do that. But I was in New York for about eight years before I had a job. I sold ladies shoes, polished leather furniture, drove a truck. I think that if you have it in you and you want it bad enough, you can do it.“

The late, great, Gene Hackman (1930 – 2025) who sadly passed, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs. In a decorated career that spanned over four decades, he received two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs and four Golden Globe Awards. Choosing his best film or even best role would be tricky. Among his many highlights are performances in Bonnie and Clyde, Unforgiven,The French Connection, Mississippi Burning, The Royal Tenenbaums and Behind Enemy Lines.