Yahoo Lifestyle Gene Hackman's Mom Never Got to See Him Act. This Is the 1 Movie He Wished She Could Have Seen
The actor earned his second Oscar nomination for 1970's 'I Never Sang for My Father'
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Gene Hackman in 'I Never Sang for My Father'Gene Hackman, whose death was confirmed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's office on Thursday, Feb. 27, had a long and distinguished career that included five Academy Award nominations and two wins.
The actor was known for his roles in Bonnie and Clyde (1968), The French Connection (1972), Superman (1978), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and so many others. But in 2011, Hackman revealed that his mother never got to see him in any of the 80 films he made in his lifetime.
During an interview with GQ, the Unforgiven star confirmed that his mother, Anna, had encouraged him to become an actor as a child, taking him to the movies and telling him she wanted to see him on the silver screen one day.
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Gene Hackman at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards“I would have been 10,” Hackman said. “Things parents say to children are oftentimes not heard, but in some cases you pick up on things that your parent would like to see you have done.”
“Unfortunately my mom never saw me act,” he added. “So I’m sorry for that, but that’s the way it is.”
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Hackman had already appeared in an uncredited role in 1961’s Mad Dog Coll and on several TV shows when his mother died in 1962, years before his breakthrough role in Bonnie and Clyde.
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Melvyn Douglas, Elizabeth Hubbard and Gene Hackman in 'I Never Sang for My Father'Related: Gene Hackman's Life in Photos
Hackman told GQ that if he could pick one of his films for his mom to have seen, it would be 1970’s I Never Sang for My Father.
Hackman starred in the film as a college professor confronting his difficult relationship with his ailing father (Melvyn Douglas) in the wake of the death of his mother (Dorothy Stickney). The role earned the actor his second Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
“I thought it was a sensitive picture about family and relationships, and I think she would have been proud and happy to see that,” he said. “You're fortunate sometimes to be able to do something in life that defines who you are and who your parents may have wanted you to be.
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