Nathan Lane Reflects on Gene Hackman's Legacy and Their Time on 'The Birdcage'

Lane shares heartfelt memories of working with Hackman, whose death last month was attributed to heart disease and Alzheimer's complications.

Nathan Lane described working with Gene Hackman on the 1996 comedy 'The Birdcage' as 'the thrill of a lifetime' during a recent interview on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.'
Lane recalled Hackman's ability to seamlessly transition between comedy and drama, likening him to Spencer Tracy for his naturalistic acting style.
A memorable scene in the film, where Lane and Hackman dance and sing 'I Could Have Danced All Night,' included a humorous ad-libbed exchange that Lane fondly remembered as a 'slight flirtation.'
Hackman passed away in February at the age of 95, with his cause of death identified as heart disease and advanced Alzheimer's disease; his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died days earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Tributes to Hackman have poured in from colleagues and admirers, including Morgan Freeman, who honored him during the Oscars' In Memoriam segment.