THEE Lex Luthor (Happy Birthday To THEE Gene Hackman!)

This acclaimed actor has been described by his peers no less as one of the greatest actors of his generation. And that was the generation of actors and actresses of the second Golden Age of Hollywood...the late '60's and '70's.
He's won a Best Actor Oscar for 1971's "The French Connection" and for 1992's "Unforgiven."
He's appeared in classic films like "Bonnie And Clyde," "The Conversation," and "Mississippi Burning" among others. He's worked with legendary actors and actresses like Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Warren Beatty, and Faye Dunaway.
But as a kid he was one thing and one thing only. Superman's arch nemesis...LEX LUTHOR!
A handful of actors, whether on the big or small screen or as a voice interpretation, have portrayed the great super villain. Including Hackman's "Superman IV: The Quest For Peace" costar Jon Cryer, who's done an exceptional job in the CW DC Television 'Arrowverse.' But as an older gentlemen who's seen his share of superheroes and villains, in my humble opinion he's the best.
He may not have been the most 'comic accurate' version of Luthor, but his acting chops along with the great humor attached to the way Lex was written is always entertaining to watch. I'll never tire of that version of Lex Luthor.
"Superman: The Movie" was the first movie I saw in the theater as a VERY young child. And as I was told by my parents, a very fidgety kid. They didn't think I would sit through the film.
But I did.
I was transfixed.
Christopher Reeves is MY Superman.
And Gene Hackman is MY Lex Luthor.
Happy birthday to the acting titan...Gene Hackman.