Sky York Journal
Gene Hackman didn’t need a conversation to get his words across.
Eight months after the legendary actor died at the age of 95, Keanu Reeves—who played the football player to Gene’s coach in 2000’s The Replacements—revealed what it was really like working with Gene on set.
“He was generous,” Keanu recalled during his appearance on the Oct. 17 episode of Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast. “We had a good chemistry. Basically, he was like no nonsense, no bulls–t. Came to work ready to go—knew the lines, knew what was going on, and didn’t really suffer people who weren’t doing that.”
In fact, Keanu said Gene “had a look” he’d deliver to those not quite up to snuff, which The Matrix star demonstrated by crossing his arms and serving up a deadpan look.
To which Travis noted, “Sounds like a real coach, man. Sounds like Andy Reid. My coach gives you one look, you already know. You better tighten it up, man.”
