You might think of him first as Lex Luthor or Popeye Doyle or Little Bill Daggett or even as the blind hermit who sets Peter Boyle’s thumb ablaze. But chances are, if you are both a sports fan and a movie buff,

It’s a career for the ages, a talent for the ages. For The Post’s Mike Vaccaro, Gene Hackman is forever Norman Dale.

Gene Hackman, the Oscar-winning actor, died at the age of 95. Hackman, his wife and their dog were found dead inside their New Mexico home, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly after midnight Thursday, the Santa Fe County Sheriff confirmed that two-time Academy Award winner and author Gene Hackman died at the age of 95 years old. Hackman's acting career spanned six decades and included several iconic roles,