Movies

Gene Hackman, two-time Oscar winner, found dead with his wife and dog in Santa Fe home

BBG News

95-year-old Gene Hackman, the acclaimed actor who infused a gritty intensity into movies like “Bonnie and Clyde,” “The French Connection,” and “Unforgiven,” was tragically found deceased along with his wife in New Mexico on Wednesday, according to officials.

According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department, actor Harrison Ford, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their pet were discovered safe at home. It appears there is no indication of any suspicious activity.

Throughout his illustrious acting career, Hackman garnered Academy Awards for his performances as a relentless narcotics officer in “The French Connection” and a brutal sheriff in “Unforgiven.” He initially gained prominence on the silver screen in the 1967 classic film “Bonnie and Clyde,” where he starred alongside Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the infamous bank robbers of the Great Depression. His role as Buck Barrow, Clyde’s brother, earned him his first Oscar nomination.

In an interview with The Times in 1968, Hackman stated that due to his resemblance to Bonnie and Clyde, many individuals approach him, and he is not the type of person one would usually approach as he appears quite ordinary.

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Gene Hackman dead: Authorities say no foul play is suspected in the actor’s death

A former Marine and frequent bar fight participant, standing at 6 feet 2 inches, Hackman later transformed into one of Hollywood’s busiest actors. Even as he aged, adopting the description of an “elderly man with sagging jowls, weary eyes, and thinning hair,” he continued to grace the silver screen for years.

Over the course of four decades, I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of over 70 films. From “The Conversation” to “The Poseidon Adventure,” “Superman,” “Hoosiers,” “Twice in a Lifetime,” “No Way Out,” “Mississippi Burning,” “The Firm,” “Crimson Tide,” “Get Shorty,” “The Birdcage,” and “Absolute Power,” I’ve left my mark on the silver screen.

The experienced performer from the Broadway stage earned his second nomination for the Oscar in the supporting actor category, thanks to his role in “I Never Sang for My Father” – a 1970 dramatic film. In this production, he depicted a middle-aged university professor who embarked on a fresh life journey while juggling his responsibilities towards his challenging elder father, who was played by Melvyn Douglas.

However, it was his portrayal of NYC cop Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection” (1971) that catapulted 41-year-old Hackman to stardom and secured him an Oscar for best actor. The movie itself was awarded the title of best picture as well.

In this gritty part I took on, I adopted a porkpie hat reminiscent of New York Police Detective Eddie Egan. To fully immerse myself in the role, my co-star and I, Roy Scheider, joined forces with Detective Eddie Egan and his partner Sonny Grosso during their patrols through the drug-ridden “shooting galleries” of the city, gaining firsthand insights for our performance.

It wasn’t simple for Hackman to portray his character’s violent inclination at an early stage during the making of the gritty movie.

In an interview with the Boston Globe in 1995, he admitted that he struggled to physically attack a fellow actor inside a squad car. He confided in director Billy Friedkin, “I don’t think I can do this,” to which Friedkin responded, “We’ll discuss it.” However, as time went on and they continued filming, he became more at ease with the project. Three months later, they re-shot that particular scene.

After spending three months working on the bustling streets of New York, I had honed my skills to such an extent that I could deliver a powerful blow exactly as required. This moment marked a significant shift in my abilities.

The film gained notoriety due to its breathtakingly intense auto chase sequence, featuring Tom Hanks as Detective Doyle persistently chasing a hijacked train on an edge-of-your-seat ride.

In a later statement, Hackman admitted that he was only responsible for about 60% of the driving during that particular sequence; in reality, it was stunt driver Bill Hickman who steered a Pontiac LeMans at high speed, reaching 90 mph for an impressive 26 blocks without ever having to stop.

In the mid-’70s, Hackman started competing in sports car races. However, as he confided to The Times in 1988, the driving scenes in “The French Connection” were far more terrifying than any experience he had on a racetrack.

1989 saw Hackman receive yet another Best Actor Oscar nod, this time for his portrayal of a 1960s FBI agent in the Deep South, probing into the vanishing of three civil rights advocates who were later discovered to have been brutally killed.

As a cinephile, I was thrilled to witness the moment when he clinched his second Oscar. This time, it was for his exceptional role as Little Bill Daggett, the ruthless sheriff in the 1992 western masterpiece “Unforgiven.” Interestingly, this film also took home the award for Best Picture, a testament to Clint Eastwood’s brilliant direction and acting.

In 1994, Eastwood expressed to The Times that Hackman was essential for the role because he has a unique ability to portray an unappealing character in a way that evokes sympathy.

In a different phrasing, Hackman portrayed a character who initially seemed like a villain but also had a comical element. This villain was well-rounded, with a distinct perspective that made him appear genuine rather than one-dimensional and merely sneering. As stated by Eastwood.

In the 1997 thriller “Absolute Power,” Clint Eastwood not only played a role but also directed Morgan Freeman, who portrayed a philandering U.S. president. It turns out that Eastwood had been an admirer for quite some time.

In the 2001 interview, Eastwood stated, “Regardless of the quality of the image he was in, he consistently excelled. He added depth and richness that likely surpassed what was initially present. Working with him only deepens your admiration for him.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the depth of emotion Gene Hackman portrayed in films like “Enemy of the State” and “Crimson Tide,” directed by Tony Scott. In 2001, Scott shared with The Times that there was an intricate palette of feelings hidden within Hackman’s gaze, a secret world that unfolds on screen. It’s as if you can sense the turmoil inside his mind and behind his eyes.

Back in 1994, Sydney Pollack, the director who masterfully portrayed Hackman as a morally ambiguous lawyer in “The Firm,” shared with The Times his observation about Hackman’s unique screen presence. According to him, there was always an undercurrent of uncertainty surrounding Hackman’s character – you could never predict with certainty what he might do next, for he carried an aura of potential danger.

According to Hackman, it doesn’t matter to him if a character is sympathetic or not, what matters is making the audience believe that this character could be real and human.

In his acting career, Hackman preferred to maintain a certain level of personal space from his fellow cast members. As he explained to The Times in 1994, “It’s best to keep some distance, even at arm’s length. You’re more likely to be relaxed around someone if they’re a friend.

He also avoided giving interviews.

He explained that he’s not fond of discussing himself, implying that he values his personal life. For him, performing is more of a personal endeavor, and he prefers to keep those aspects hidden from others.

Hackman also was known for having run-ins with directors, including Friedkin.

In an interview with The Times in 2001, Friedkin described our relationship on “The French Connection” as a tough and demanding one. However, he emphasized that despite its challenges, our goal was consistently the same: striving for the best possible outcome.

The actor acknowledged that he never had a completely comfortable relationship with directors.

In the 1994 Times interview, he laughed, saying, “I’ve got a knack for making people laugh.” He also shared that since he had little fatherly guidance in his life, directors often symbolized authority figures for him.

Born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, Hackman spent his formative years in Danville, Illinois, where his family eventually settled. Despite his father’s occupation as a newspaper pressman, their financial situation was such that they resided with Hackman’s paternal grandmother, rather than owning a home.

His relationship with his father was rocky.

In an interview with The Times back in 1988, Hackman stated that his father wasn’t a very robust individual. Instead, he was frail and compensated for this weakness by becoming excessively physically dominating towards me, even to the point of physical violence. I resented it because the punishment seemed disproportionate to the offense committed.

At the age of 13, Hackman experienced an unexpected ending to his parents’ marriage. While playing at a friend’s house, he saw his father pass by, giving a wave that made it clear to Hackman that he wouldn’t be returning.

Hackman expressed that it was quite challenging for him, saying, “It wasn’t easy. At thirteen, I was extremely vulnerable, and the manner in which my father departed was less than ideal – just waving goodbye without stopping or saying anything. My brother, Richard, was only six weeks old at the time, leaving me in a situation where I had to take on the role of the head of the household. This left me with a great deal of anger and resentment.

At age sixteen, Hackman enlisted in the Marines, explaining, “I wanted a change and didn’t wish to be tied down with the responsibilities at home.” He added, “Perhaps I should have remained and taken care of my duties, but I simply needed to escape.

During his time in the Marines, he served tours in Asia and frequently faced disciplinary action due to disobedience. Additionally, Hackman willingly took on roles as a disc jockey and newsreader for the military radio station.

Following my honorable discharge in 1952, I embarked on a six-month journey studying journalism at the University of Illinois. Subsequently, I relocated to New York City and delved into the realm of television production. Over time, I honed my skills at stations located in Florida and Danville.

In my journey, I found myself trading the East Coast for the sun-kissed shores of California, where I enrolled in the esteemed Pasadena Playhouse to hone my craft as an actor. It was there that fate introduced me to a promising young talent named Dustin Hoffman, who would remain a cherished friend throughout our lives.

In a 2001 interview with the Los Angeles Daily News, Hackman admitted that he’d long harbored a dream of becoming an actor. However, during his high school years, he was too timid to take any action towards fulfilling this ambition. But it was only when he was in Pasadena that he found the courage to step onto the stage and discover whether acting was truly something he enjoyed, or if it was merely a foolish notion.

1988 saw Hackman share with The Times: “If you’ve experienced a troubled childhood, acting can serve as a means to exorcise those experiences, to clarify your identity… When I’m offered roles that delve into the shadows, they resonate with me.

In the late 1950s, after they were apparently labeled as having the least chance of success at the Pasadena Playhouse alongside Hoffman, Hackman went back to New York and started learning Method acting from George Morrison, a graduate of Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio.

In the span of his acting career in New York, Hackman spent time with Hoffman and the up-and-coming actor, Robert Duvall, outside of their roles. They both held diverse jobs such as working as a doorman and a taxi driver during that period.

1961 saw Hackman become a member of the improv group led by Morrison, known as the Premise. That very same year, he debuted on the big screen, portraying a police officer in the gritty Depression-era gangster film titled “Mad Dog Coll.

In 1964, he had his major debut when he starred alongside Sandy Dennis on Broadway in the successful comedy “Any Wednesday.

In that particular year, he also made a brief yet impactful appearance in the film drama “Lilith,” where Beatty, who later expressed that “the best aspect of ‘Lilith’ was Gene Hackman,” was the main star. During the auditions for “Bonnie and Clyde,” which Beatty produced, he recalled this actor fondly.

As the years rolled by, I, being none other than Hackman, lent my voice to TV and radio ads for Lowe’s. My swan song as an actor came with the 2004 comedy “Welcome to Mooseport.” Not long after its premiere, I gracefully announced my retirement in a conversation with Larry King.

Beyond the camera’s view, he was engaged in a variety of activities such as piloting aircraft and painting, adopting what he referred to as an Impressionistic style reminiscent of Manet. In the year 1999, he expanded his repertoire to include writing novels.

As a passionate cinephile, I had the privilege of collaborating with Daniel Lenihan on a trilogy of historical novels. Together, we crafted “Wake of the Perdido Star,” “Justice for None,” and “Escape From Andersonville.” Each story is a testament to our shared love for history and storytelling.

In 1956, he got married to Faye, and they together had three kids named Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie. However, their marriage ended in the 1980s through a divorce.

Born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Hackman took up cycling at the ripe age of 88, a passion he developed late in life. In 1991, he tied the knot with his second spouse, renowned classical pianist Betsy Arakawa. He leaves behind his wife and three children – Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie.

McLellan is a former Times staff writer

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2025-02-27 15:02

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