Superman: Gene Hackman Trends As Fans Celebrate Lex Luthor Actor's 92nd Birthday

By Jamie Jirak - January 30, 2022 05:09 pm EST

Today is a big day for celebrity birthdays! Not only is Twitter celebrating the 48th birthday of Secret Invasion star, Olivia Colman, but Gene Hackman is also a trending topic on the social media site today. Hackman, who won two Academy Awards throughout his career for The French Connection and Unforgiven, turned 92 on January 30th. Hackman has over 100 acting credits to his name despite retiring 18 years ago, but many will know him best for playing Lex Luthor opposite Christopher Reeve's Superman in Superman: The Movie, Superman II, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Last year, Hackman made headlines when a photo of him started to circulate online thanks to film historian and author James L. Neibaur. It was said that Hackman was "alive and well" after leaving the spotlight back in 2004 with his last film appearance being Welcome to Mooseport opposite Ray Romano. In addition to the aforementioned films, Hackman is also known for starring in The Poseidon Adventure, The Conversation, A Bridge Too Far, Hoosiers, No Way Out, Bat*21, The Firm, The Quick and the Dead, Get Shorty, Crimson Tide, Antz, and Behind Enemy Lines.

Two years ago, recent Lex Luthor actor Jon Cryer wrote a special message in honor of Hackman's 90th. "Happy Birthday, Uncle Lex! Nobody does it better," Cryer wrote. You can check out some of the tweets in honor of Hackman's 92nd birthday below...

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Happy 92nd Birthday Gene Hackman!
“I was trained to be an actor, not a star.” pic.twitter.com/9SaAR4z3hS
— Marshall Julius (@MarshallJulius) January 30, 2022

Long Live Lex

🎂🎉 Happy Birthday, Gene Hackman (January 30, 1930), the best and funniest Lex Luthor ever.#GeneHackman pic.twitter.com/xwpRy1GwUp
— Jermaine (@JermaineWatkins) January 30, 2022

Champ

Born this day in 1930 – he’s won 2 Academy Awards, 4 Golden Globes, 1 Screen Actors Guild Award, and 2 BAFTAs. Upon the death of Sidney Poitier earlier this year he became the oldest living and earliest surviving Best Actor Oscar-winner.

Happy 92nd birthday, Gene Hackman… https://t.co/sGFpGA8wkh
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) January 30, 2022

Interview Throwback

Gene Hackman was born #OnThisDay in 1930.

Back in 1986 he joined Terry Wogan to talk about playing Lex Luthor and how/why he was such a latecomer to his trade. pic.twitter.com/jmTG5HwbRv
— BBC Archive (@BBCArchive) January 30, 2022

Don't Forget Young Frankenstein...

Let's celebrate Gene Hackman's 92nd Birthday with soup, wine and cigars! 🥣 🍷 🚬
(📽️ Young Frankenstein, 1974) pic.twitter.com/3pWUELNmqA
— Marshall Julius (@MarshallJulius) January 30, 2022

...Or The Royal Tenenbaums

Good morning and happy birthday, Gene Hackman! ☕️✨ pic.twitter.com/3NpVyMVPhd
— Criterion Collection (@Criterion) January 30, 2022

The Birdcage Is Also A Classic

Was watching Gene Hackman clips from The Birdcage and remembered this amazing moment pic.twitter.com/i4F6WvDkJP
— Carey O'Donnell (@ecareyo) January 30, 2022

But Have You Seen The Conversation?

Since we're in the middle of Oscar hysteria, here is a reminder that Gene Hackman, who turns 92 today, was not nominated for perhaps his greatest performance. pic.twitter.com/NmlRKyWnlZ
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) January 30, 2022

The Best Lex

Gene Hackman is a brilliant actor and the best one to play a live-action Lex Luthor on the silver screen. pic.twitter.com/wG5EVnKrH1
— Jacob Airey (@realJacobAirey) January 30, 2022

What's Your Favorite Hackman Role?

Happy birthday to the great Gene Hackman! pic.twitter.com/ZrzxWb1BpH
— Films to Films 📽🎬 (@FilmstoFilms_) January 30, 2022