Bill Murray Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Gene Hackman; Recalls How Late Actor Was ‘Difficult’ on Set With Wes Anderson

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Recently, Bill Murray honored the late actor Gene Hackman by reflecting warmly on his illustrious career. Murray reminisced about Hackman’s immense talent as well as the challenges they encountered together during film productions.

Following Hackman’s passing, Murray provided an open interview to the Associated Press regarding their work together on The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). He shared that the veteran actor was notably strict with director Wes Anderson during their collaboration.

Murray commented, “Gene Hackman was quite challenging, yet incredibly talented and hard to work with.

Describing Hackman as a “hard shell,” Murray stated that seasoned actors can be tricky for novice directors, and Hackman fit this pattern. He often tested Anderson, who was still relatively young at the time. Murray, who also starred alongside Hackman in the film, often stepped in to defend his friend during these instances.

As a die-hard admirer, let me tell you, it’s no secret now that he was a formidable figure. You see, veterans in the acting world often don’t take kindly to young directors, they can be quite harsh with them. But Gene, he wasn’t just tough, he was rough on Wes. In those moments, I found myself stepping up, trying to shield my friend from the brunt of it all.

He recalled instances where Hackman delivered flawless scenes while patiently waiting for another performer to finish their lines, leading to visible signs of frustration due to delays. “As I watched, I thought, ‘It’s no wonder he wants to strangle people.’ Then he gave a routine performance and the other actor got it right, and I felt like Gene was about to push the guy off the building. He was truly a great one, an exceptional actor,” Murray commented.

Although facing challenges, Murray emphasized Hackman’s brilliance, noting that while he could be tough to collaborate with, in essence, he was truly outstanding.

Mel Brooks, who collaborated with Hackman on the Oscar-nominated comedy classic Young Frankenstein in 1974, expressed on X: “I felt blessed to have known Gene Hackman as he often played tennis with another Gene – Gene Wilder. And it was this Gene who shared with him about a small role called The Blind Hermit in our film YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.

Brooks remarked, “He asked, ‘Could Mel give me permission to perform it? I’ve longed to try comedy.’ Without a doubt, I was thrilled, and he fit the role wonderfully.

At the age of 95, Gene Hackman, accompanied by his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their pets, peacefully passed away in their home in Santa Fe on a Thursday.

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2025-02-28 17:37