.Actor Gene Hackman, the acclaimed Oscar-winning actor known for his diverse roles that spanned from reluctant heroes to cunning villains, has been found dead at his home alongside his wife. His performances earned him immense respect and numerous accolades in the industry.
The exact cause of death hasn’t been determined yet, but authorities are not considering foul play, as stated by Denise Womack-Avila, the spokesperson for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
He appeared to be able to tackle any type of film or character — from an uptight buffoon in “Birdcage” to a college coach seeking redemption in the beloved classic “Hoosiers,” or even a covert surveillance expert in the Watergate-era film “The Conversation.”
Two times Oscar Winner, Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman fibbed about his age to enlist in the Marines at just 16 years old, serving for almost five years. He was stationed in China, where he took on the role of a radio operator, a position that eventually paved the way for his career as a disc jockey.
Gene Hackman was 36 year old when he finally made a name for himself in the iconic 1967 film “Bonnie and Clyde.” Interestingly, he snagged this role after missing out on the chance to play Mr. Robinson in “The Graduate.” Prior to that, he had served in the Marines, struggled to find his footing in California and New York – occasionally alongside his roommate, “Graduate” star Dustin Hoffman – and took on various odd jobs, including working as a truck driver and doorman.
Gene Hackman had three children with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese, who passed away in 2017. He retired at the age of 74. In recent decades, he had been living in Santa Fe with Arakawa, a former classical pianist, and mostly kept a low profile away from the public eye.
Gene hackman was born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California. Hackman has had a remarkable career, earning a slew of accolades, including two Academy Awards. He is well-known for his iconic roles, such as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in the 1971 film The French Connection, for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor, and Sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 film Unforgiven, where he earned the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Hackman held a unique position in Hollywood following in the footsteps of Spencer Tracy as the quintessential everyman, an actor’s actor, and a reluctant celebrity. He represented the principle of focusing on his craft, excelling at it, and leaving concerns about his public persona to others. It seemed that the industry relied on him more than he relied on the industry. Aside from the necessary appearances at award shows, he was seldom spotted in social circles and openly expressed his disdain for the commercial aspects of show business.
He won an Oscar for his role as New York cop Popeye Doyle in the 1971 film “The French Connection,” a detective who ultimately gets his man but pays a steep price. In 1974’s “The Conversation,” he plays a surveillance expert whose single-minded focus borders on obsession, causing him to lose all sense of perspective.
In 1956, Hackman tied the knot with Fay Maltese, a bank teller he met at a YMCA dance in New York. Together, they welcomed a son, Christopher, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, but their marriage ended in divorce in the mid-1980s. In 1991, he tied the knot with Betsy Arakawa, a talented classical pianist of Japanese heritage who spent her childhood in Hawaii.
Hackman’s most memorable performances frequently featured complex authority figures or unexpectedly cunning white-collar antagonists, like his legendary portrayal of Lex Luthor in the “Superman” films of the 1970s and 80s. These characters often carried an undertone of menace, sometimes more pronounced than others.