Gene Hackman plays the role of the evil Lex Luthor in the 1978 movie adaptation of the iconic comic book series, Superman. But did you know that he was over thirty years old when he first tried acting by enrolling in the Pasadena Playhouse? It’s said that Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman were voted as the least likely to succeed in the school. After he was done with acting school, Gene Hackman moved to New York where he starred in Broadway plays. His role in the Broadway play “Any Wednesday” would lead him to land a part in the movie Lilith. Hackman’s first nomination for the Academy Award was for Best Supporting Actor in the movie Bonnie and Clyde. Throughout the next few years, he proved himself to be a very versatile actor who can play both comedy and villainy.