Gene Hackman was a shy man who hated showbiz – and whose mother died in a fire

On 16 -year -old American Marines.

His early 1930s saw further personal revolution when his mother died in a fire caused by her cigarette, a tragedy that fed his reflections at family disease function.

In an interview from 2001 with The New York Times, he joked: “Dysfunctional Families have conceived many pretty good actors. “

During his service, Hackman was confronted with discipline challenges and received three demotions from Corporal. His initial trip to Showbusiness, however, took place when he conquered his fear of the public to work as a disc jockey and news announcer at the radio station of his unity.

After obtaining a high school diploma in the Marines, Hackman briefly followed journalism at the University of Illinois, but stopped to study radio that announced in New York. He then moved to Florida and back to Danville before returning to New York, where he explored painting at the Art Students League.

His career took another turn when he registered for an acting course in the Pasadena Playhouse.