That background may have informed Hackman's portrayal of a military character in ''Bat*21'', a suspenseful film set during the Vietnam War based on the real escape of USAF Lt. Col. Iceal "Ham" Hambleton after being shot down.

And of course "Crimson Tide." Good God, was he good in that one.

He was a force of nature embodying his role in Mississippi Burning. Very physical and I never realized how tall he was until you see him face down some redneck racists! He plays the in-the-trenches tough guy who makes Willem Dafoe look like a comparative dweeb.

I just looked into it and wow, that movie depicts him killing a farmer after failing to steal supplies from his family.

Kind of surprising. Might have to check that out.

Oi, his role as a USNavy admiral in the film Behind Enemy Lines now makes sense.