Editing Gene Hackman (section)

===Views and interests===
[[File:President Ronald Reagan with Gene Hackman (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Hackman (right) with President [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1987]]
Hackman was a supporter of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and said he was "proud" to be included on [[Master list of Nixon's political opponents|Nixon's Enemies List]]. However, he spoke fondly about [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] president [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Chilton |first=Martin |date=January 26, 2020 |title=Gene Hackman: The tormented, brawling genius of film |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/gene-hackman-90-birthday-french-connection-unforgiven-a9295326.html |access-date=July 6, 2021 |work=The Independent |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003095621/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/gene-hackman-90-birthday-french-connection-unforgiven-a9295326.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the late 1970s, Hackman competed in [[Sports Car Club of America]] races, driving an open-wheeled [[Formula Ford]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-13-tm-1434-story.html |title=Pleasures of the Road: Track Starts : Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Perry King and Lorenzo Lamas rap on racing |first=Nikki |last=Finke |author-link=Nikki Finke |date=March 13, 1998 |access-date=August 24, 2018 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807001432/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-13-tm-1434-story.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/23/automobiles/on-the-track-movie-stars-as-racecar-drivers-what-s-their-motivation.html |title=On the Track; Movie Stars as Racecar Drivers: What's Their Motivation? |first=Joseph |last=Siano |date=October 23, 2002 |access-date=August 24, 2018 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824065937/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/23/automobiles/on-the-track-movie-stars-as-racecar-drivers-what-s-their-motivation.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1980, he won the [[Long Beach]] [[Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Smith, Steven Cole |title=Gene Hackman Was the "Most Impressive" Celebrity Driver Bob Bondurant Ever Coached |url=https://www.hagerty.com/media/people/gene-hackman-was-the-most-impressive-celebrity-driver-bob-bondurant-ever-coached/ |work=Hagerty |date=February 27, 2025 |archive-date=February 27, 2025 |access-date=February 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227223707/https://www.hagerty.com/media/people/gene-hackman-was-the-most-impressive-celebrity-driver-bob-bondurant-ever-coached/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Grand Prix of Long Beach 2016 Fan Guide |url=https://gplb.com/app/uploads/2016/10/2016-Fan-Guide-webvF.pdf|date=April 15–17, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015227/https://gplb.com/app/uploads/2016/10/2016-Fan-Guide-webvF.pdf |archive-date=January 10, 2017 |website= gplb.com| publisher= Grand Prix of Long Beach|access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref> He also drove a [[Dan Gurney]] Team [[Toyota]] in the [[24 Hours of Daytona]] Endurance Race in 1983.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/comment/actors-with-driving-ambition/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/comment/actors-with-driving-ambition/ |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Actors with driving ambition |first=Andrew |last=Frankel |date=January 2, 2016 |access-date=August 24, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Hackman was a fan of the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], an [[NFL]] football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, and regularly attended Jaguars games as a guest of former head coach [[Jack Del Rio]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Parziale |first=James |date=October 20, 2016 |title=Most famous fan of every NFL team |url=https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/gallery/most-famous-fan-of-every-nfl-team-lebron-james-samuel-l-jackson-michael-phelps-john-mccain-041315 |access-date=August 3, 2018 |work=[[Fox Sports]] |publisher=[[Fox Corporation|Fox]]}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Their friendship went back to Del Rio's playing days at the [[University of Southern California]].<ref>{{cite web | first= Bart| last= Hubbuch |date=November 29, 2005 |title=Jaguars Notebook: Chatter angers Cardinals |url=http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112905/jag_20422934.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104105358/http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112905/jag_20422934.shtml |archive-date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=September 16, 2018 |publisher=Jacksonville.com}}</ref>

Hackman was also interested in architecture and design. As of 1990, he had created ten homes, two of which were featured in ''[[Architectural Digest]]''.<ref name="Chatfield-Taylor" /> After a period of time, he moved on to another house restoration. "I don't know what's wrong with me," he remarked. "I guess I like the process, and when it's over, it's over."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warga |first=Wayne |date=May 20, 2016 |title=Gene Hackman's House in Montecito, California |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/gene-hackman-palm-springs-house |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926195427/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/gene-hackman-palm-springs-house |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |website=Architectural Digest |language=en-US}}</ref> Hackman was an active cyclist well into his 90s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Catch 88-Year-Old Gene Hackman Cruising Around Santa Fe on His New E-bike |work=[[Men's Journal]] |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/catch-88-year-old-gene-hackman-cruising-around-santa-fe-on-his-new-e-bike/ |access-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-date=November 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127202832/https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/catch-88-year-old-gene-hackman-cruising-around-santa-fe-on-his-new-e-bike/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dolak |first=Kevin |date=March 3, 2025 |title=Contradictory Accounts of Gene Hackman's Health in His Final Months Emerge |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/gene-hackman-final-months-details-friends-family-1236153723/ |access-date=March 3, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=March 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303224258/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/gene-hackman-final-months-details-friends-family-1236153723/ |url-status=live}}</ref>