Star Trek’s George Takei also paid tribute to the “giant” that was Hackman, noting he “could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it.”

He continued on X, “He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.”

Indeed, it was that “everyman” quality that made Hackman such a prolific actor—and not something he would deny. After all, while in conversation with The New York Times in 1989 Hackman described himself as “your everyday mine worker.”

It was also a quality the Royal Tenenbaums star—whose illustrious career boasted two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globes and a SAG Award—tried to maintain throughout his years onscreen.

“If you look at yourself as a star you've already lost something in the portrayal of any human being,” Hackman explained. “I need to keep myself on the edge and keep as pure as possible. You need something to bring you down to a sense of who you are and who you're portraying. You need to remember you're not a movie star and that you shouldn't be too happy.”

As he noted, “You should never take anything for granted.''

For a look back at Hackman’s life, keep reading.