A personal anecdote about a favourite actor–Gene Hackman–who is 90 today.
The plan was to meet in Manhattan.
I was flying from London and Meredith from Snowmass where she was doing a few downhills with the family.
I arrived first on a beautiful early Spring afternoon and checked into the hotel on the south side of 58th street between 5th and 6th Avenues. I’ve forgotten the name but it was known as an actor’s hotel because of the location and the reasonable rates; no room service though!
[It’s no longer there.]
After parking my stuff I strolled out into the sunshine and had my shoes shined on the corner of 6th Avenue and 57th Street. As I sat sunning myself looking forward to Meredith’s imminent arrival, I remember thinking the cherry on the cake would be to take in a new Gene Hackman film that evening.
Shoes gleaming, I twinkled–toed back to the hotel to wait for Meredith.
From my room I spotted a coffee shop directly opposite the entrance to the hotel and decided to pop over, get a coffee and bring it back to the room.
As I was crossing back, coffee and a sandwich in hand, out of the hotel heading for the cafe, wearing a beautiful Hawaiian shirt and looking like he hadn’t a care in the world, to my utter amazement, came–Gene Hackman.
I managed not to drop my comestibles and continued into the lobby of the hotel.
End of anecdote, sadly.
I should be able to recount how I sat in reception and waited for the return of my hero and how I went up to him and told him how much I had enjoyed his performances over the years since Bonnie and Clyde.
No, sadly, I took the lift to my floor and sat rather dazed and ate my sandwich and drank my coffee like a gobsmacked idiot.
I had form in this regard–and Meredith just can’t understand my reticence–so un-American!
I’ll put it down to shock and shyness–but it’s silly.
He is one of the big beasts of cinema–actors you can’t take your eyes off.
Ineffable presences: Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, my Mother’s pin-up–Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Jimmy Cagney, Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Sean Connery….
Bette Davis, Audrey Hepburn, Ginger Rogers (I’m surprised each time I catch the breathtaking brilliance of Fred and Ginger–how drawn I am to her effortless concentration), Katherine Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman….
Name your own!
But Gene Hackman is also an imposing character actor.
Contrast Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection and French Connection 2:
with The Conversation.
So–from across the pond and about thirty years late–THANK YOU, Gene Hackman and MANY HAPPY RETURNS!!
Robin Ellis 
Great, evocative story! Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall are two of my favourite actors!
Well, I’m a Charlton Heston fan. Got the chance to see a play starring him in Manchester years ago. Was told he was signing autographs at the stage door. When I saw his face, I couldn’t speak till somebody in the queue poked me in the ribs and I could talk. Talked to Mr. Heston about the “Aeneid” , the epic poem written by Vergil. It was a memorable moment for me.
Great memory, Heidi. You did it, unlike me!
Great post. Gene Hackman has always been a favorite for me.
Go Gene–hope he’s fit and well…
It is good to know that my reaction to seeing YOU is the same as your reaction to seeing Mr. Hackman, although I doubt you dreamed of marrying Mr. Hackman. Ha!
Not my first thought, no!
Hi Robin, I loved the story. Was the hotel called the Wyndham?
Kind regards, Ruth M
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YES! Thank you.
Meredith and I were wracking our brains trying to remember the name.
I lived in Santa Fe, NM from 1999 to 2003. So one day I was having lunch with my former husband at cloud cliff bakery, I looked up to see Gene Hackman walk in. A fine actor! I believe he still lives in Santa Fe, I now live in Las Cruces, NM. Mazal Tov Gene Hackman for turning 90! Karen Stines
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Hi Robin,
I am an American but I would have been gobsmacked at seeing Gene Hackman also. I was pretty tongue tied meeting YOU at your cooking class in 2014. You sat next to me and I realized how down to earth and kind you were. You put me to ease right away. Gosh, my hero from Poldark is a real person and a nice one at that!!
Thanks Robin.
Sandy Smith Buchanan
Thanks and Hi! Sandy.
Hello Robin,
I remember seeing my ‘hero’ – one Mr R Ellis at an exhibition in the 70’s of Pre Raphaelite paintings at the Tate. I too was far too shy to go up to him!! So I quite understand how you feel……..!
Best regards,
Fran Shaw
I was going the’ my Pre-Raphaelite stage!
Heavens, Robin Ellis AND Pre-Raphaelite art? I would have swooned, hoping for a récamier to break my fall!
How fortunate you were!
Marina in the Valley of Heart’s Delight, CA
Many years ago I sat ringside to Frank Sinatra’s show. I have seen most of the great singers but none had the charisma of Sinatra. I sat tongue-tied watching him. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand.
I chuckled reading your story. First, it’s so great to hear of one actor being too shy to approach another actor-that’s humility for you! Reminds me of my very foolish statement made years ago while boarding a plane with my young child. I looked absent mindedly at the man behind me on the tarmac
also boarding the plane and blurting out, “Oh, Danny Kaye!” to which he responded “yes!” He smiled but I felt like an idiot! It wasnt humility on my part, it was saying what I was thinking, not what was appropriate.
Oh, I forgot to say: Yes, Gene Hackman has always been a great actor, among the best. Just loved to hear he just turned 90!! Hope he has enjoyed his life as much as his audiences have loved his performances.
Behind the Plaza on 58th, and convenient.
I was similarly gobsmacked into silence in a cookware store when Mrs Greg Jenkins aka Peggy Fleming the multiple Olympic women’s figure skating medalist, was not five feet down the checkout counter from me about 20 yrs ago.
What would I say? Glad you beat breast cancer? I loved watching you perform? Nothing scintillating or unusual came to mind, so I just enjoyed the moment and kept her privacy.
Marina in the Valley of Heart’s Delight, CA
Gene Hackman is said to live here in Santa Fe (where I’ve lived for about 25 years), but I’ve never seen him! It’s said that his wife owns a boutique of some kind.
Other local celebrities are Shirley Maclaine and Robert Redford (part-time).
Nancy Dennis
At least you’ll be prepared!
I loved his minister character in “The Poseidon Adventure.” One of the first movies I remember my dad taking us to see at the drive-ins. Such an awesome movie and incredible cast… Shelley Winters, Ernest Borgnine, and Red Buttons.
One must grab the chance when presented. We were at a restaurant for lunch with my parents and when leaving we bumped into Prime Minister Wilson. My Dad went up to him and said you are doing a great job. If I remember correctly Mr W was a wee bit well lubricated! Such is life. When it comes to actors if I have enjoyed their performance in one show I now look them up to see if there is further work I can enjoy. I found several past performances you were in. Warm regards and trust Shadow is over his trauma. He is a very sweet looking wee moggie.
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Mr W, whom we now know from The Crown smoked cigars not a pipe so as not to appear elitist!