1988 - Gene Hackman, Why He Joined the Marines

Late Night with David Letterman

[@keithlloyd4254]

I can't ever remember seeing a poor performance by him, he's always eminently believable whatever part he plays.

[@fkerpants]

Care to elaborate? I would sincerely like to know.

[@coffeefish]

We don't worship actors in America.

[@liberal4liberty]

As of today, Gene is 94 years old. Happy Birthday, Gene!!

[@ImYourHuckleberry_29]

Ahahaha.....Hackman is so honest as an actor and a person. He's one of the last of a soon to be extinct breed.

[@DavGreg]

Gene Hackman is 93 years old as of this comment. Happy Birthday.

[@tylertilwick6852]

God, they don’t make ‘em like they used to. Gene Hackman is a real Actor’s-Actor, quite simply one of the greatest actors of all-time!!

[@sehnal139]

ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTORS

[@sanakassara]

One of the best American SOB's on the big screen.

[@seancollins6524]

What a fantastic actor

[@mrkeno1000]

you couldnt have had a better Lex Luthor than Gene Hackman

[@TRockett55IRISH]

Outstanding Semper Fi Mr. Hackman

[@russellsharpley7926]

One of my favourite all time actors

[@edinscot56789]

"Complete the mission" 😂😂😂

[@CaptainJimHill]

Blair n

[@jedijones]

The video "Late Night with david Letterman Oct 19, 1988" has this interview with Hackman in full.

[@mariocassina90]

Gene Hackman as drill instructor must've been scary...

[@johnranallo424]

Now I like him even more. Semper Fi!!!

[@fkerpants]

I love that dude. That wave from "The French Connection" always makes my day.

[@vhscopyofseinfeld]

Push Back that movie is amazing. My dad introduced it to me way back in the day.

[@89426]

Damn, you're good.

[@Von45Rose]

Boy I miss the old (younger)Letterman when the show had that special "something"

[@ariochiv]

An actor who actually served in the military... now there's something you don't see every day.

[@Bubbles99718]

Arioch IV You'd be surprised.

[@orlock20]

It was pretty common for actors from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s to have served in the military either from the draft or joining the military.

[@ariochiv]

I have no doubt, but it doesn't seem very common today.

[@kreamowheat]

Adam Driver has a good story too!

[@pjamese3]

Funny. In my 23 years in the Ary and 3 deployments to Iraq, I only met about a couple dozen of those Blackwater types. They must have all been in another war.

[@henguspod3899]

great actor

[@bradfordeaton6558]

Semper Fi. Gene!

[@djizzah]

the unforgiven is the greatest role ive seen him in, along with the french connection

[@asanta2023]

Loved him in ‘No Way Out,’ with Kevin Kostner.

[@scothammond5736]

He wasn't a kid when he was 16 he was a Marine

[@stevefowler2112]

Semper fi

[@funkmike]

You stay in until you complete the mission...

[@keithpopko2540]

@@funkmike And then you guard the streets of Heaven.

[@mitchb4084]

The greatest,,man I miss his acting

[@FlorentNoirot]

that smile! it's that paul newman's type charm.

[@drummer7557]

Gene is so cool, I'd love to sit and have a conversation with him, especially before he dies (Sigh). Which he wasn't retired, much like Sean Conery and Dustin Hoffman. Such classic actors.

[@richardhenk2118]

One of the best actors ever my favorite

[@pop9095]

Cool as the underside of a pillow.

[@filmbuff-ru4xt]

A fine actor and I'm somewhat surprised to hear rumours that Gene Hackman was a bit of a nightmare to work with.

[@crystalskullsucked]

Honestly why i joined the service too a bit ...

[@gregthanks4757]

Joined the Marines to get laid, original answer,when I was a child my old Man told me he joined because he got sick of getting into fights,later truth be told at age 17 the judge gave him a chose,ended up in the south Pacific 1943, thanks Gene and to all that severed

[@neil2905]

fucking love mean gene

[@joecoe4416]

MANLIEST ACTOR EVER!

[@jasonconklin8172]

Love hackman he seems to b in movies the he is just himself tru blu , honest and hard ass , but somehow still shows he cares too. I question if he really acts tho he's always in movies he would do in his own life , as I see it?

[@HaywardEntertainment]

Badass💯

[@HeWhoFlewFromInwood]

Letterman is the GOAT

[@stvnbryan5542]

Semper Fi

[@jamesmadison2065]

my fav

[@arnoldstollar5375]

Great actor.

[@juliusnurutti]

gene is 42 today.wow.

[@johnm2369]

honest.. The truth will set you free

[@josephlawson9950]

I miss Gene Hackman ps what to his

[@HarPlayer]

THAT A VERY GOOD REASON !!! : )

[@007therealjamesbond]

*A tough s.o.b.*

[@LuisGomez-uk3ot]

never seen Hackman in a talk show..

[@apseudonym]

dave: so gene what made you want to join the marine c- gene: YELLOW FEVER

[@DeniseKelley-xw9tz]

Gene Hackman

[@Billy-vn3zi]

Great in Bonnie & Clyde

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

I could never grasp why David Letterman ever had a show.

[@bored1ca]

For moments like this!

[@maximillianosaben]

I never really got his presence on the show. Too snarky and obtrusive. Not saying he couldn't be funny, but I never cared much for his interviews.

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

Max: agreed on all accounts.

[@mrchopsticks3]

The point of Dave's show was that it was this show that came on super late that seemed like it was filmed in someone's basement, complete with a budget to go with it. People today can't grasp that concept.

[@maximillianosaben]

There's humor in there for sure, but I appreciated Craig Ferguson's take on that concept substantially more.

[@DJRitty]

Can't believe he faded away. I wonder if he's got something? You'd think maybe if anything hed have had a cameo as lex in one of the crisis projects...maybe he just wants nothing to do with acting?

[@lukashermans9521]

Hello There, Good For You! hungry shake 1!

[@josephlawson9950]

What the hell happened to Gene Hackman

[@patmcbride9853]

Too bad De Niro never served. Maybe he wouldn't be such a faux tough guy loudmouth.

[@pop9095]

And maybe you have no idea what sort of person RD is?

[@MrTonyharrell]

Pat McBride He really is a know nothing loudmouth.

[@Roblx518]

pop9095 your suspicious fear and doubt is nothing...fuck off.

[@powderfinger6597]

U understand DeNiro is an actor playing tough guy characters. Kinda like when Tom Hanks played a astronaut or Depp played a pirate...its them playing a character, it's not real.

[@MrTonyharrell]

MrHappyBollox Stop touching yourself. At least stop making your mom watch.

[@brianellinger6622]

im not a marine

[@slowpoke96Z28]

Lol. Rah!

[@HardKore5250]

You have to go to Starbucks

[@dylanhoward1209]

🔥 This is probably one of my favorite movie 1:20 💟💕 👇 👇🔥

[@mr.l6615]

I like Hackman, seems like a genuine dude.

[@apseudonym]

he is. he punched a hobo who insulted his wife

[@chrysopylaedesign]

Gene Hackman, a LEGEND!!!!.....The French Connection, The Conversation, Poseidon Adventure, Superman, Mississippi Burning, Unforgiven, Crimson Tide, Get Shorty....& dozens of other TV & Movie roles.......a Supremely Talented, Intelligent & Funny professional......really miss that guy..

[@asanta2023]

Loved Hackman in ‘No Way Out.’

[@hawkeye681]

@@asanta2023 completely forgot that one!!! He was great in that one as well!!

[@mikepetitti]

Yes @A B, loved No Way Out. Also, Hackman was great in The Replacements.

[@calinrang5939]

+ THE DOMINO PRINCIPLE !

[@AverySutton-q5b]

As well as Hoosiers ​@@mikepetitti

[@anthonyenos9857]

Long live Gene your the best.Semper Fi.Fellow vet....

[@BlahKDubstep]

I always felt he was a Marine even when he played Admirals in movies

[@clubredken13]

I haven't really had an opinion on the best actor thing. But Dustin Hoffman and Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington all pretty much say he's the best. That being, of course, David Letterman in the Cabin Boy

[@HardKore5250]

clubredken Cabin Boy lol

[@xtraflo]

The type of Man who Other Men from this generation looked up to. That says a hell of a lot .

[@hansoloman]

One of the last living gentlemen ! Why is not been honored by AFI yet ?

[@nicolamcguinness8689]

Rest in peace Sammy Wilson

[@bradcouch457]

George Lucas tried enlisting in the Air Force but failed the medical exam because his eyesight wasn't good enough.

[@anastasiaburke6206]

Hackman one of the best actors ever meet him at a Mike Tyson fight great man

[@kryptos5208]

Uncommon Valor

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

These 2 are good together 😎😃

[@Daveyengland]

Such a handsome guy. No homo.

[@joeytrimble1558]

Hackman is a funny man !

[@Randall2023]

Lol 😂 love classic men! Gene Hackman

[@calinrang5939]

In THE DOMINO PRINCIPLE Gene has shown us he KNEW how to sport an M16 ! The proof that he had a military background.

[@angelashevlin2656]

Always liked him.great actor.👍💋

[@DJRitty]

Luthor 4 life lol ;) I love how he said 'jesus christ' after the canon lol

[@TomSmith-sj2zq]

i couldnt get laid...great guy.

[@tedpert8786]

Irreplaceable one of the best can’t get any better!

[@davidturrell2482]

letterwoman was lame even in the begining!

[@rainbowrandolph9]

You call him "letterwoman" and then call him "lame." You're an idiot.

[@XIPHIASCDXX]

Where's _your_ nationally syndicated late show? Loser...

[@gerrylamb3780]

I thought he was Airborne?

[@jshepard152]

No

[@Anon_E_Muss]

Gone into the marines at 16!