Reportedly turned down one of the lead roles in Network (1976).
Reportedly turned down the role of Randall Patrick McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
Revealed on "Inside the Actors Studio" (1994) that two of the most important factors in deciding on which films he will work on are the script and the money.
Says watching his own films makes him terribly nervous.
Studied journalism and TV production at the University of Illinois, where he was voted "Least Likely to Succeed.".
Turned down the lead role of Roy Neary in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) because he was in a troubled marriage and could not spend 16 weeks outside of Los Angeles on location shooting.
Turned down the lead roles in Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
Turned down the leading role in Sorcerer (1977) that went to Roy Scheider, Hackman's co-star in The French Connection (1971).
Turned down the part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor (2001), which went to Jon Voight.
Turned down the role of Sheriff Teasle in First Blood (1982).
Was a Dallas Cowboys fan but now regularly attends Jacksonville Jaguars games as guest of his friend head coach Jack Del Rio.
Was admitted into the famed Pasadena Playhouse on the G.I. Bill. He failed out of it after 3 months and moved to New York to continue being a stage actor. Received 1 of the lowest grades the school had ever given (1.3 out of 10). He headed to New York with the intention of proving them wrong.
Was also offered the chance to direct The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Was the first choice to play Hannibal Lector in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Was the first choice to play Mike Brady on "The Brady Bunch" (1969).
Was the subject of the song "Gene Hackman" by Hoodoo Gurus.
While a struggling actor in New York City, he worked as a soda jerk in a pharmacy and as a furniture mover. But told Time Magazine in 2011 that "worst job I ever had" was working nights at the legendary Chrysler Building--as part of a crew that polished the leather furniture.
While at the Pasadena Playhouse, Hackman and a classmate were voted "Least likely to succeed". The classmate was Dustin Hoffman.