The late actor Gene Hackman was truly one of the all-time great performers whose impressive work in Westerns included some of the genre’s greatest films. With an acting career that spanned 45 years and boasted over 70 films, Hackman retired in 2004 and died at the age of 95 in 2025. With two Academy Awards, countless iconic roles, and collaborations with some of the best directors of all time, Hackman’s legacy as one of the all-time great actors stands for itself.

While Hackman’s filmography was notable for its sheer variety, he did make the time to star in several incredible Western movies. Although some of these bombed at the box office or failed to be recognized in their own time, one thing that united them all was Hackman’s firm commitment to his roles and his ability to embody believable and engaging characters. With an unmatched legacy in Hollywood, now is the perfect time to look back and reflect on Hackman’s Western movie roles.

7

Wyatt Earp (1994)

Gene Hackman as Nicholas Porter Earp

While Wyatt Earp looked great and boasted some fantastic visuals, the harsh truth was it’s always lived in the shadow of a far better movie. Released just six months after the cult favorite Tombstone, this overlong epic exploring the lawman of the same name and the lead-up to the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral did not have the same stylish appeal and gritty energy as that acclaimed film. Despite a strong cast including Kevin Costner as Wyatt Earp, Gene Hackman as his father Nicholas Porter Earp, and Dennis Quaid as Doc Holliday, this Western was overlong and unfocused.

Wyatt Earp actually ended up on several year-end worst-of lists from major publications like Rolling Stone, and Costner earned the Golden Raspberry award for Worst Actor. Although Wyatt Earp wasn’t a great movie and made for exhausting viewing, Hackman gave a fine performance in a minor role and proved, even in underwhelming releases, he never phoned it in. While Wyatt Earp had its moments, if given a choice between this and Tombstone, that classic with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer will win every time.

6

The Hunting Party (1971)

Gene Hackman as Brandt Ruger

The bloody and violent Western The Hunting Party showcased how Wild West cinema started to explore darker and more depraved topics as the Golden Age of Westerns from the 1940s to 1960s started to give way to grittier releases in response to the success of the Spaghetti Western genre. This was certainly seen in this Gene Hackman movie as he portrayed a cattle baron with a long-range rifle hunting down the man who kidnapped his wife.

As a gory Western that saw Hackman’s Brandt Ruger face off against the outlaw Frank Calder (Oliver Reed) and his band of men, there was so much ruthless killing on screen that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by its intensity. With a strong cast and a great performance from Reed, who kidnapped Hackman’s wife not for ransom but to get her to help him learn how to read a book. The Hunting Party wasn’t a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination, but those who like their Westerns raw and wild will certainly be in for a good time.

5

Zandy’s Bride (1974)

Gene Hackman as Zandy Allan

The domestic side of the Wild West was explored in Zandy’s Bride, a fascinating Western drama starring Gene Hackman as Zandy Allan and Liv Ullmann as his mail-order Swedish bride, Hannah Lund. While Zandy expected a woman in her mid-20s, Hannah was 32, and the pair failed to connect as his lack of experience with women led him to treat her quite poorly. However, together, they learn to thrive in their harsh working environment and start to find meaning in the relationship.

Zandy’s Bride was an interesting character study about two people thrust together. While it’s clear Zandy harbors outdated views about Hannah being his possession that he bought and owned, he’s forced to question his inhumane viewpoints as he realizes that his new wife was more than a match for his brash and uncivilized behavior. While Zandy’s Bride wasn’t one of Hackman’s best-known movies, it’s an interesting addition to his incredible work throughout the 1970s.

4

Geronimo: An American Legend (1993)

Gene Hackman as Brigadier General George Crook

Geronimo: An American Legend explored the story of how First Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood (Jason Patric) convinced Apache leader Geronimo (Wes Studi) to surrender in 1886 in the Apache Wars. While Geronimo received mixed reviews at the time of its release, it was praised by Native American groups (via LA Times) who commended the casting of Native American actor Studi in the тιтle role and for being a thoughtful look at the leader’s legacy.

Hackman gave a great performance as General George Crook, the commanding U.S. officer who led the 1886 campaign and gained the nickname Crook Nantan Lupan, meaning ‘Chief Wolf,’ from Apache members. With an important message about the unjust treatment of Native Americans told in a thoughtful way rarely seen in Hollywood productions, Geronimo stood as a compelling Western that deserved to be made. Featuring the likes of Robert Duvall and Matt Damon among its cast, Hackman was surrounded by talent in an epic Western that brought to mind the power of classic releases.

3

Bite the Bullet (1975)

Gene Hackman as Sam Clayton

It’s hard to believe, but Bite the Bullet’s story of a grueling 700-mile cross-country horse race was based on real events that used to take place in the Wild West. Following a pair of ex-Rough Riders, a former prosтιтute, a gunfighter, an aging cowboy, and an English gentleman all vying for a cash prize of $2,000, Bite the Bullet highlights the effect this compeтιтion had on all the participants. With a real sense of cinematic spectacle, Bite the Bullet was a love letter to the American frontier and an age that no longer exists.

Gene Hackman played Sam Clayton, a seasoned cowboy whose tough guy exterior hid the sensitive and empathic soul within. Bite the Bullet was packed with interesting characters as it reaffirmed the Western myth and showcased the beauty of cinema with its awe-inspiring cinematography. As a film that captured the essence of what made the Western genre so appealing, it’s a real shame that Bite the Bullet isn’t more well-known to the average viewer.

2

The Quick and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ (1995)

Gene Hackman as John Herod

The star-studded Western The Quick and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ was one of director Sam Raimi’s most underrated films. With Sharon Stone as the Old West gunslinger known as the Lady, she was joined by the likes of Russell Crowe, a young Leonardo DiCaprio, and, of course, Gene Hackman. As John Herod, the ruthless outlaw-turned-mayor, Hackman showed off his villainous side and appeared to be having the time of his life doing it.

The Quick and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ was packed with astounding performances, a strong visual style, and was propped up by Raimi’s unique sense of humor. With revisionist Western sensibilities, Stone’s role subverted the idea of helpless women in Westerns, as she did not hesitate to join a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly dueling compeтιтion and pursue revenge for her murdered father. Hackman’s role as a classic corrupt antagonist made for enjoyable viewing as The Quick and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ stood as one of his greatest bad-guy roles.

1

Unforgiven (1992)

Gene Hackman as Sheriff “Little” Bill Daggett

When it came to the best Gene Hackman Western movies, there would never be any other answer than Clint Eastwood’s masterpiece, Unforgiven. As one of the few Best Picture-winning Western movies, Unforgiven not only stood as a highlight in both Hackman and Eastwood’s filmographies but also managed to act as the summation of the genre as a whole and a commentary on the very nature of violence in the Wild West. By deconstructing the fine line between heroism and a desire for revenge, Unforgiven managed to thoroughly dissect the essence of the genre in a way that was poignant and thought-provoking.

Hackman gave one of his finest performances as Sheriff “Little” Bill Daggett, Unforgiven’s main antagonist, who maintains control through intimidation and brutality. While Daggett viewed himself as a symbol of stability, the truth was that his cruelty and hypocrisy meant he was ultimately a villain who eventually met his end at the hands of Eastwood’s Will Munny. In a career that had several incredible Western movie roles, Unforgiven was the absolute pinnacle of Gene Hackman’s time spent in the Wild West.

Source: LA Times