Hollywood is heartbroken over the most recent loss of actor Gene Hackman and classical pianist Betsy Arakawa.
The couple was found with their dog, all deceased, in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday afternoon at around 1:45 pm. Hackman was 95, and Arakawa was 64. The Santa Fe police department released a statement on February 27th, saying “Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time however exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation…”
No additional news has been released about the couple, but condolences and tributes have flooded social media, including people from Hackman’s past.
One of the first to send condolences was director Francis Ford Coppola, working with Hackman on 1974’s The Conversation. Posting on Instagram, Coppola captioned the photo with “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration.” He also mentioned in the post that “Gene Hackman is a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
Related: Michelle Trachtenberg Of ‘Harriet The Spy’ And ‘Gossip Girl’ Dies At 39
Hackman’s Legacy
Gene Hackman had a career that spanned six decades before his retirement, earning two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globes. These awards are just a hint of his acting prowess, becoming one of the most distinctive stars of his generation. Hackman was part of a group of unconventional leading actors that helped define “New Hollywood” cinema in the 1970s, continuing on his path of stardom into the ’80s and ’90s.
Notable appearances include The French Connection (1971), Unforgiven (1992), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Superman (1978), Loose Cannons (1990), Behind Enemy Lines (2001), and Runaway Jury (2003). He retired from acting after starring in Welcome to Mooseport in 2004.
The Impact of The French Connection
While he remained largely out of the public eye after his retirement, Gene Hackman did have an interview with The New York Post in honor of the 50th anniversary of The French Connection, from which he won an Academy Award.
During the interview, he discussed the impact of the film, noting, “At the time, it seemed to me to be a reverent story of a cop who was simply able to solve and put a stop to a major crime family’s attempt to infiltrate the New York drug scene.” However, after reflecting on the film’s impact, Hackman added, “The film certainly helped me in my career, and I am grateful for that.”
Hackman continued to use his creative strengths in retirement, writing four historical fiction novels (Wake of the Perdido Star, Justice for None, Escape From Andersonville: A Novel of the Civil War, and Payback at Morning Peak: A Novel of the American West) and the 2013 police thriller Pursuit. He is survived by his three children — Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie — from his first marriage.
Check Out: Meghan Markle Accused of ‘Ripping Off’ Pamela Anderson In a Surprising Way
The Actor’s Beginnings
Gene Hackman was born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California. He traveled across the country with his father and mother before landing in Illinois. Dropping out of school at 16, Hackman fibbed about his age to join the U.S. Marines, trained as a radio operator, and served in China. After discharge, he took his radio talents to New York City, attending the School of Radio Technique. However, Hackman soon changed his goals to acting, enrolling at the Pasadena Playhouse in Southern California.
His first gigs were in theater and various television shows, such as The Defenders, and he earned his first movie credit alongside Warren Beatty and Jean Seberg in Lilith. Beatty and Hackman joined forces again in Hackman’s breakout role in Bonnie & Clyde.
Hackman’s Big Break
He continued to pick up more work in the late 1960s, including Downhill Racer. But everything changed for Hackman with his appearance in The French Connection, catapulting him to new heights and an Oscar for best actor. This allowed Hackman to pursue roles in The Poseidon Adventure, Scarecrow, Night Moves, and the blockbuster Superman.
One of his busiest stretches as an actor was in the 1980s, taking on leading and supporting parts in various genres, including dramas, action flicks, and romances. He ended the ’80s with Mississippi Burning, receiving both praise and criticism for the film.
Hackman continued acting into the ’90s, with a notable appearance in Unforgiven that landed him an Oscar for best supporting actor. He frequently played the grizzled foil character to younger stars, in works such. as The Firm, Crimson Tide, The Birdcage, and Enemy of the State.
Read Next: 6 Iconic Movie Sets That Defined Hollywood History
Gene Hackman entered the new millennium with a few more films but ended his Hollywood career in 2004 with the film Welcome to Mooseport. Since then, he has stayed largely out of the public eye, but his films continue to live on in Hollywood history.
More About:Celebrity