Gene Hackman

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There are moments in time that stick in your mind.

I was at the Javits Center in NYC, signing copies of ‘Counting On A Miracle’ beside Henry Winkler.

A weird coincidence for sure.

Henry was positioned next to me for the one hour that we were asked to sign.

Of course, the line was long - to get Henry’s children book - but I was handsomely benefitted by being beside the Fonz. 

Everyone was spilling into my line and I was signing plenty of books.

I was also chatting with Henry and when I hear that he’s the nicest guy in Hollywood, I know it’s true.

He was great.

I made him laugh a few times and as we finished signing, he looked out over the crowd and yelled, “Hey, Gene, you gotta’ meet this guy.”

Gene Hackman - who was pretty damn tall - strolled over, a bright smile on his face.

I shook his hand while saying, “It’s Lex Luther.”

Gene and Henry chatted for a moment and then they were both gone, out of my life. 

Henry signed a book that I gave to my sister, Corinne, and I signed one for him.

I thought of that moment when I heard that Gene Hackman was found dead today, beside his wife and a dog.

I also thought about the fact that he was so famous!

And yet, he died - and his body wasn’t found for at least a day.

Heartbreaking.

“I shook his hand,” I thought.

He was a huge star. A great actor. 

He will live on through his work for a long, long time.

May they rest in peace.


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