Gene Hackman, the versatile actor whose death was confirmed Thursday, played a range of characters from a paranoid wiretapper to a Superman villain.

"The French Connection" is based on Robin Moore's 1969 book of the same name. Both films tell the story of NYPD detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, in pursuit of french heroin smugglers.

He, his wife and a dog were found dead in their New Mexico home. His superb body of work included 'Bonnie and Clyde,' 'I Never Sang for My Father,' 'The Conversation,' 'Hoosiers' and 'Unforgiven.' ...