Gene Hackman, the actor whose turns in classics like “The French Connection" and “Unforgiven” made him one of the most respected actors in Hollywood, died.

One of the first major film stars to break out in the 1970s, Gene Hackman was the epitome of New Hollywood. An actor with livewire intensity, he had a grit and brusqueness that few others could ever match,

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.'