Just hours after news of the untimely death of Gene Hackman, a screenwriter of one of his films is opening up about the beloved actor.

Hackman retired in 2004 after his final movie Welcome to Mooseport, with the actor revealing to Empire in 2009 that his doctor told him his heart couldn’t withstand the stress of his acting work. 

One of his final movies before that was the 2000 thriller Under Suspicion alongside Morgan Freeman and Monica Belluci.

After learning of the actor’s death, Under Suspicion screenwriter W. Peter Iliff (Point Break, Varsity Blues) opened up about a bizarre moment on the set… where Hackman nearly punched him.

While cooler heads ultimately did prevail, he admitted that the nearly-violent incident sparked a friendship that spanned nearly 25 years until his death.

Iliff revealed in a guest column with The Hollywood Reporter that the incident happened in 2000 during rehearsals for the film in Puerto Rico.

One of his final movies before that was the 2000 thriller Under Suspicion alongside Morgan Freeman and Monica Belluci

After learning of the actor’s death, Under Suspicion screenwriter W. Peter Iliff (pictured above in 2012) opened up about a bizarre moment on the set… where Hackman nearly punched him

‘Gene Hackman angrily bolted out of his chair and came at me. I swear he wanted to throw a punch,’ Iliff began.

The writer said that he, director Stephen Hopkins, Hackman and Freeman, ‘spent our days on the upper floor of a San Juan H๏τel’ getting ready for the shoot.

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Iliff described the screenplay as more of a stage play, as they all watched Hackman, ‘bungle a line over and over,’ which lead to the reason Hackman wanted to punch him.

‘So I did the unthinkable. I blurted out to perhaps the best actor in the world how it was supposed to be said,’ Iliff explained.

The writer added, ‘my mind froze and everything sped up,’ as he recalled a documentary about Hackman that revealed he lied about his age to join the Marines at just 16, and how he’d pick fights with bigger guys at bars during his 20s.

He added that Hackman got out of his chair and started coming after him, when Iliff said, something that put a stop to the confrontation.

‘There I was, 6’4” and 30 years younger, and Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle was about to throw that punch. I stood my ground and growled, “Goddammit, Gene, how much longer do I have to sit here and listen to you f**k up my line?”’ Iliff explained.

‘Gene Hackman stopped ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in his tracks. He gave me a look. And then he gave me a grin. That evening after rehearsal, Gene took me to dinner. Just the two of us. We became very good friends,’ Iliff said.

‘Gene Hackman angrily bolted out of his chair and came at me. I swear he wanted to throw a punch,’ Iliff (pictured on set with Morgan Freeman and Hackman) began.

Iliff described the screenplay as more of a stage play, as they all watched Hackman, ‘bungle a line over and over,’ which lead to the reason Hackman wanted to punch him

‘There I was, 6’4” and 30 years younger, and Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle was about to throw that punch. I stood my ground and growled, “Goddammit, Gene, how much longer do I have to sit here and listen to you f**k up my line?”’ Iliff explained

The writer added that the iconic actor proved his friendship after the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it’s ‘customary’ to throw a big party before the screening.

The parties are typically held at the Majestic H๏τel, and afterwards the filmmakers and cast are brought out to waiting Mercedes-Benz cars to take them to the red carpet.

‘But my wife, Ruthanne, so beautiful that night, had gone to the restroom last minute. When we got out to the loading dock, every car was full, no space left for us, and they were about to take off. I was going to miss the red carpet. Nobody offered to help us, standing there on that dock in despair. Not even my good buddy Stephen (Hopkins),’ Iliff said.

‘Suddenly way up at the front, a door opened from the first car in the long procession and Gene Hackman steps out. He yells to us, “Hey Pete, Ruthanne, get up here!” He ushered us over and invited us to squeeze into his car. He had his wife, Betsy, sit on his lap. And Ruthanne sat on mine. We rode across the street and walked that carpet together,’ the writer added.

‘That was one of the kindest, warmest things anyone has ever done for us. That is who Gene Hackman is and was. He was my friend,’ Iliff said. 

‘An alpha male who respected a young man who would stand up to him. A sweet, sensitive, brilliant man whom I have been lucky and proud to call my friend,’ he concluded.