Gene Hackman

The illustrious Sir Eugene Allen Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California to a family of Pennsylvania Dutch, English, and Scottish descent, partly by way of Canada. After his family settled in Danville, Illinois, Hackman, at a young age, decided to pursue a life of service in the US Marines. After his honorable discharge, he studied Journalism and Television Production on the G.I. Bill at the University of Illinois. Hackman then decided to take his chance at acting, enrolling in the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse in California. Though his future was uncertain and many deemed him 'least likely to succeed', Hackman persevered and moved back to New York, where his illustrious career in acting began.