Remembering the late Gene Hackman's connection to the Washington NFL franchise
Gene Hackman and Dan Aykroyd in Bob Clark's LOOSE CANNONS released on this day in 1990. pic.twitter.com/SUxZOICD2q — Peter Avellino (@PeterAPeel) February 9, 2014
Thursday was a sad day for the entertainment world. Legendary actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home. They were reportedly dead for "some time," and their deaths were ruled "suspicious enough," but foul play was not suspected, at least initially.
The 95-year-old Hackman had been retired from the Hollywood spotlight for years but will be fondly remembered as one of the best actors ever, with several notable films across different genres.
Hackman starred in one of the greatest sports films ever. In "Hoosiers," a 1986 film, Hackman played a high school basketball coach with a questionable past in rural Indiana.
However, Hackman also has a connection to the current Washington Commanders, formerly known as the Washington Redskins.
In 1990, Hackman starred with Dan Aykroyd as a tough cop in the film "Loose Cannons." In the movie, Hackman plays the role of a Redskins' fans, donning a burgundy and gold jacket.
That wasn't Hackman's only connection to Washington football. In 2000, Hackman starred as Jimmy McGinty in the "Replacements," a movie loosely based on the 1987 Redskins. When a player strike hits the league, McGinty is named head coach of the Washington Sentinels, as long as he can pick the players. McGinty then assembles a roster full of either washed-up former stars or players who never made it big for one reason or another.
The movie didn't have NFL licensing, which is why the team was called the Sentinels and not the Redskins. However, some of the drama in the film mirrored the 1987 Redskins.
Finally, in 2007, Hackman was again connected to the Redskins, narrating "America's Game" for NFL Films, focusing on the team's triumphant 1987 season.
The legendary Gene Hackman lent his distinctive voice to #NFL Films, narrating four episodes of their tremendous "America's Game" series.
RIP🕯️ pic.twitter.com/MuXqSRfrUq — Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 28, 2025
It's unknown if Hackman was a Washington fan, but he certainly had multiple connections to the franchise.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
Kan-Kan Cinema is elevating Indy's cinema culture
Kan-Kan Cinema is keeping Indianapolis's love for cinema alive. As an independent arthouse theater, Kan-Kan stands out from its movie theater counterparts. It's home to frequent community events and programs in the Windsor Park neighborhood. It's cozy, intimate and a bit eclectic. More importantly, it lets filmgoers watch movies that other theaters don't show. Khaled Khlifi, Kan-Kan's creative and marketing director, told me Kan-Kan showed over a dozen films last year that few theaters picked up nationally. Some were available nowhere else in Indiana. More from Sadia Khatri: Purdue, IU abandon student newspapers, diminishing campus voices 'We really do see ourselves as fulfilling a little bit of a niche in the city for making this a film city in the same way that things open in New York or LA and Chicago only,' Khlifi said. Kan-Kan's popularity has much to do with how the theater views moviegoing as an art experience. Movies aren't a revenue stream — they're a lifestyle. The theater exists through the nonprofit Indianapolis Film Project. Kan-Kan's primary goal isn't to rake in as much money as possible, but to instead help film thrive. 'With our memberships and with individual donations and with corporate giving and the grants that we can get and that we're applying for, we can keep this place running in a different way,' Khlifi said. 'The nonprofit structure has been completely vital for us to do what we want to do as a community-serving organization.' The importance of community is the most significant part of the Kan-Kan experience, and it's what I associate most with the theater. It manifests in two ways. The first is through location. If you've ever visited Kan-Kan, you'll notice that it's embedded within the Windsor Park neighborhood. Peek around the theater and you'll see houses just steps away. 'We, at the inception of this place, wanted it to be a neighborhood hangout,' Khlifi said. 'This was never going to be in a strip mall ... We have people in the neighborhood that are walking and biking over here all the time. We offer free neighborhood memberships, as well.' The second way is through people. Kan-Kan is a film staple in Indianapolis, and that wouldn't be possible without the programs and events the theater hosts. Kan-Kan is home to a handful of film clubs, allowing Hoosier filmgoers to connect with one another. One example is the Book to Film Club, where attendees watch a book-to-film adaptation and discuss both the movie and the book afterwards. Local bookstores in Indiana are already great at creating spaces for Hoosiers to connect. Together, Kan-Kan and independent bookstores are helping to create new ways to navigate art, film and literature. More from Sadia Khatri: Abortion ban, fetal anomaly and a ticking clock: 'an impossible decision' Watching a movie with your community is an experience that makes filmgoing feel special. Being able to attend a screening at Kan-Kan for an event sometimes means participating in a discussion after the film or documentary, making it all more memorable. I have fond memories at Kan-Kan from when I was a Butler University student, visiting the theater for a class, an event hosted by a campus organization or just with friends. Kan-Kan's success lies in its ability to connect. Cinephiles feel seen and heard by theaters like Kan-Kan; the theater is making it easier for Hoosiers to fall in love with movies. Watching a movie in the comfort of your living room or bedroom is comfortable and fun in its own right, but a movie theater is magical. Kan-Kan keeps that magic alive.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Indiana makes stunning mascot decision after 60-year hiatus
The post Indiana makes stunning mascot decision after 60-year hiatus appeared first on ClutchPoints. Indiana football turned into a College Football Playoff team without a mascot leading fan cheers. Hoosiers sports in general operated games without a mascot while many across the Big Ten featured one. Now the university is resurrecting an old relic. Advertisement Revealed Monday by Brett McMurphy of On3/Rivals, Indiana is bringing back a famed past face from the school. 'Hoosier The Bison is back, baby. Indiana University's official mascot – Hoosier The Bison – has returned to the IU-Bloomington campus after a nearly 60-year hiatus. The Bison will make its public debut Aug. 30 when Indiana hosts ODU,' McMurphy shared on X (formerly Twitter). Hoosier will now share the field with Herky the Hawkeye (Iowa), the Oregon Duck, Sparty (Michigan State) and the Penn State Nittany Lion this fall. Hoosier's return fuels renewed enthusiasm for IU football, following its stunning CFP run under Curt Cignetti. Indiana is attempting to capitalize on its epic '25 run on the college football recruiting trail. Including adding edge rusher Ronelle Johnson over Missouri and Ole Miss from the Southeastern Conference on July 5. The Hoosiers even added former Tennessee tight end Holden Staes via the college football transfer portal. Advertisement The legend of 'Hoosier' on the Indiana campus Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'Hoosier' debuted in 1965 when John Pont coached his first season in Bloomington. The Daily Hoosier dove into the original idea for the mascot. 'The original intent, though, wasn't to have a costumed character parading around IU. Instead, student leaders advocated for the university to purchase a live bison, to be housed in nearby Brown County State Park, when the animal wasn't on campus for gamedays and special events,' the Daily Hoosier wrote. State and university officials scrapped the idea of a live bison, though. They eventually allowed a student to wear a Bison costume for gamedays. Advertisement The mascot 'phased out' by 1969, according to the Indiana Daily Student. The campus then tried adopting Mr. Hoosier Pride in 1979, but that lasted one year. The Daily Student then revealed that the Indiana School Government introduced a new act in Dec. 2024: The Bring Back the Bison act. 'The bill was passed in December and officially signaled the return of Hoosier the Bison to represent Indiana Athletics,' Conor Banks of the Indiana Daily Student wrote in May 2025, which became the first step in welcoming back 'Hoosier.' 'Hoosier' will now lead IU against Old Dominion on Aug. 30 in Bloomington. Related: Paul Finebaum makes eye-opening 'best' declaration on Texas football's Arch Manning Advertisement Related: Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin gets 100% real on Austin Simmons replacing Jaxson Dart
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Christopher Reeve Was Disappointed By Marlon Brando In 'Superman': 'The Man Didn't Care'
Christopher Reeve Was Disappointed By Marlon Brando In 'Superman': 'The Man Didn't Care' originally appeared on Parade. With the latest iteration of Superman soaring into theaters across the country, many fans of DC's iconic superhero might find themselves revisiting previous versions of the character. Most obviously, dedicated viewers might be turning back to the original Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, Marlon Brando and the late Gene Hackman, the first two of which earned rave reviews from critics. In spite of the first two Superman movies' continued success, however, it's worth pointing out that the Man of Steel himself had mixed feelings about the original films. In particular, the famously cordial Reeve took issue with co-star Marlon Brando's performance in the film, believing the legendary Hollywood actor failed to give it his all during the movie's production. Appearing on Late Night With David Letterman on March 1, 1982, Reeve spoke about his mixed feelings towards Brando's acting style in Superman, plainly stating, "I don't worship at the altar of Marlon Brando." Sharing his own thoughts on the actor, Reeve hypothesized that years of positive publicity had made Brando indifferent towards his craft, resulting in an increasingly unenthusiastic approach to acting with each passing decade. "He could really be inspiring a whole generation of actors by continuing to work," Reeve observed. "But what happened is the press loved him whether he was good, bad, or indifferent. People thought he was this institution no matter what he did. So he doesn't care anymore." When a somewhat taken aback Letterman joked that Brando was actually in the backstage area scheduled to come on as their next guest, Reeve laughingly replied, "I don't care. That's something I would say to him, as well." Following this, Letterman asked Reeve whether it was exciting to work with an actor of Brando's magnitude on-screen. "Not really, no," the Superman actor answered with a chuckle. "I had a wonderful time [filming], but the man didn't care, I'm sorry. He took the two million [Brando's salary for the film] and ran." "I still care. I'm a real beginner. And I just care so much that it hurts when someone's phoning it in," Reeve ended by saying. "But he's a wonderful actor. He's a brilliant man. But at this moment, he just isn't motivated." Christopher Reeve Was Disappointed By Marlon Brando In 'Superman': 'The Man Didn't Care' first appeared on Parade on Jul 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
