Bill Murray says Gene Hackman was ‘really rough on’ Wes Anderson in The Royal Tenenbaums - Murray recalled having to ‘step in’ and ‘defend’ Anderson

Bill Murray has paid an honest tribute to Gene Hackman. Murray described Hackman as one of the greats of the acting profession after his death was confirmed on Thursday, but said he could be a “tough nut” to work with.

Bill Murray delivered an honest remembrance of his “The Royal Tenenbaums” co-star Gene Hackman on Thursday, calling him a “brilliant” actor but saying he was a “tough nut” who was “really rough” on director Wes Anderson.

Of course, “the performance he gave was brilliant,” Murray adds, theorizing that Hackman had to know the juice was worth the squeeze after seeing the film. “When you see the movie, it’s a real piece of work.

And he was really difficult, we can say it now, but he was a tough guy. Older, great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They’re really rough on them,” said Bill Murray.

The 'French Connection' and 'Hoosiers' star was found dead, along with his wife and their dog, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Bill Murray said on 'The Drew Barrymore Show' that he 'sympathized' with Gene Hackman, his late 'Royal Tenenbaums' costar, despite him being 'difficult'

Bill Murray is defending his late Royal Tenenbaums co-star Gene Hackman from the film’s “punk” director Wes Anderson.

He admitted that the late actor was "a little irritable" during filming but ultimately came around to director Wes Anderson and the movie.

The Oscar-winning actor, best known for ‘The French Connection’ and ‘The Conversation’, was found dead along with his wife Betsy Arakawa and a pet dog