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The youths don’t know, but Gene Hackman was one of the greatest actors ever and a true American classic. He came up around the same time as Dustin Hoffman and Robert Duvall (two of his closest friends) and he was beloved by colleagues and directors across the board. There never was one “Gene Hackman character” – he could do anything, from paranoid conspiracists to evil presidents to romantic leading men to cowboys, cops and military men. He was even a gifted comedian to boot. Hackman retired from acting two decades ago, and he lived quietly in New Mexico with his wife and dog. He has passed away at the age of 95. His wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, has passed away as well.
Gene Hackman, who never fit the mold of a Hollywood movie star, but who became one all the same, playing seemingly ordinary characters with deceptive subtlety, intensity and often charm in some of the most noted films of the 1970s and ’80s, has died, the authorities in New Mexico said on Thursday. He was 95.
Mr. Hackman and his wife were found dead on Wednesday afternoon at a home in Santa Fe., N.M., where they had been living, according to a statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s deputies found the bodies of Mr. Hackman; his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64; and a dog, according to the statement, which said that foul play was not suspected.
Mr. Hackman was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two during a 40-year career in which he appeared in films seen and remembered by millions, among them “Bonnie and Clyde,” “The French Connection,” “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Unforgiven,” “Superman,” “Hoosiers” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
Sheriff Adan Mendoza also told the media that the family dog died in the house as well, but “there was no immediate indication of foul play in the deaths” and the sheriff also did not indicate anything about the cause of death. My God. Gene and Betsy had been married for 33 years, and Gene is survived by his three adult children from his first marriage. I might have to watch The Royal Tenenbaums tonight in his honor. Two of my favorite stories about Hackman: he said “no” to The Royal Tenenbaums several times because he didn’t like the character of Royal, so Wes Anderson rewrote it with Gene’s notes and Gene fleshed it out even more and basically bullied Anderson into letting him go buckwild in that role. Gene also said no to his old friend Clint Eastwood when Eastwood approached him about Unforgiven and Clint basically had to beg him to do it (Hackman won an Oscar for it).
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, WENN.com/Wenn/Avalon, kpa Publicity/Avalon/Avalon, IFA Film/Avalon/Avalon.
THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS / The Royal Tenenbaums USA 2001 / Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson Royal Tenenbaum (GENE HACKMAN) verließ seine Frau Etheline schon, als ihre drei Kinder noch klein waren. Unter der Obhut der Mutter wuchsen die Drei zu erfolgreichen Jugendlichen heran. Chas war schon als Teenager ein erfolgreicher Immobilien-Händler, Margot gewann schon Literaturpreise bevor sie aufs Gymnasium kam und Richie gewann dreimal in Folge die amerikanischen Tennis-Meisterschaften. Doch in den Mitt-20ern haben alle persönliche Probleme und kehren nach Hause zurück. Mutter Etheline ist gerade dabei den Heiratsantrag ihres Steuerberaters in Erwägung zu ziehen, als plötzlich Royal wieder auftaucht. Er ist pleite und will sich wieder im Heim einnisten. Doch nicht nur Egoismus treibt ihn, er will die alten Bande wieder knüpfen und seine Frau und seine Kinder zurückgewinnen… Regie: Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson aka. The Royal Tenenbaums / THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS USA 2001,Image: 136739311, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Nur redaktionelle Nutzung im Zusammenhang mit dem Film. Editorial usage only and only related to the movie. Im Falle anderer Verwendungen, kontaktieren Sie uns bitte. For other uses, please contact us., Model Release: no, Credit line: kpa Publicity/Avalon/Avalon
FRENCH CONNECTION- Der New Yorker Drogenfahnder Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (GENE HACKMAN) ist einem großen Drogendeal auf der Spur. Eine millionenschwere Ladung Heroin soll aus Marseille nach New York geschmuggelt werden. Bei der Übergabe des Stoffes kommt es zu einer wilden Schießerei, bei der Doyle aus Versehen einen Kollegen erschießt. Der Drogenboss Charnier aber kann entkommen… Regie: William Friedkin aka. French Connection / FRENCH CONNECTION USA 1971,Image: 136849878, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Nur redaktionelle Nutzung im Zusammenhang mit dem Film. Editorial usage only and only related to the movie. Im Falle anderer Verwendungen, kontaktieren Sie uns bitte. For other uses, please contact us., Model Release: no, Credit line: kpa Publicity/Avalon/Avalon
Die Firma, Firm, The, Die Firma, Firm, The, Avery Tolar (Gene Hackman) *** Local Caption *** 1993,Image: 378682693, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Nur redaktionelle Nutzung im Zusammenhang mit dem Film. Editorial usage only and only related to the movie. Im Falle anderer Verwendungen, kontaktieren Sie uns bitte. For other uses, please contact us., Model Release: no, Pictured: Sydney Pollack, Credit line: IFA Film/Avalon/Avalon
Erbarmungslos / Hackman, Gene,Image: 379570954, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Nur redaktionelle Nutzung im Zusammenhang mit dem Film. Editorial usage only and only related to the film., Model Release: no, Credit line: /Avalon/Avalon
French Connection II (1975) Directed by John Frankenheimer,Image: 420493389, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WENN does not claim any ownership including but not limited to Copyright, License in attached material. Fees charged by WENN are for WENN's services only, do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any ownership of Copyright, License in material. By publishing this material you expressly agree to indemnify, to hold WENN, its directors, shareholders, employees harmless from any loss, claims, damages, demands, expenses (including legal fees), any causes of action, allegation against WENN arising out of, connected in any way with publication of the material., Model Release: no, Pictured: Gene Hackman, Credit line: WENN.com/Wenn/Avalon
The French Connection (1971) Directed by William Friedkin,Image: 420493390, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WENN does not claim any ownership including but not limited to Copyright, License in attached material. Fees charged by WENN are for WENN's services only, do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any ownership of Copyright, License in material. By publishing this material you expressly agree to indemnify, to hold WENN, its directors, shareholders, employees harmless from any loss, claims, damages, demands, expenses (including legal fees), any causes of action, allegation against WENN arising out of, connected in any way with publication of the material., Model Release: no, Pictured: Gene Hackman, Credit line: WENN.com/Wenn/Avalon
New York, NY, New York, NY, 10/24/2007 – Gene Hackman leaving The Carlyle hotel in Manhattan. -PICTURED: Gene Hackman -PHOTO by: Jayme Oak/startraksphoto.com -BRS10798 #Event/#Photo= 2EB115E2189/2EB115E3004
Featuring: Gene Hackman
Where: New York, New York, United States
When: 24 Oct 2007
Credit: Jayme Oak/startraksphoto.com
