Gene Hackman, one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, has passed away at the age of 95, reports Hotnews.
His wife, Betsy Arakawa, was also found dead alongside him in their New Mexico home.
The local newspaper Santa Fe New Mexican reported the news on Thursday, citing law enforcement sources.
Their dog was also found dead. Authorities have ruled out homicide but have not yet determined the cause of death.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the news.
Hackman was known for his roles in classic films such as The French Connection, Bonnie and Clyde, and The Royal Tenenbaums.
He was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his generation. Though he retired from acting in 2008, he remained a respected figure in the industry.
He was last seen publicly in April of last year, dining with his wife in Santa Fe, where they lived.
Born Eugene Allen Hackman on January 30, 1931, in San Bernardino, California, he had a tough childhood.
His family moved frequently before settling in Danville, Illinois. His parents divorced when he was a child, and his father left the family.
As a teenager, he crossed paths with actor Dick Van Dyke, who was friends with Hackman’s older brother.
Also read
At 16, Hackman ran away from home and joined the U.S. Navy. He served as a radio operator for over four years, spending time in China, Hawaii, and Japan. In 1962, his mother died in a house fire.
After leaving the Navy, Hackman studied journalism at the University of Illinois. He later decided to pursue acting and joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California.
While there, he befriended Dustin Hoffman. Both were initially told they had little chance of success. Undeterred, they moved to New York to study drama.
Hackman’s career took off in the 1960s. He earned an Oscar nomination for Bonnie and Clyde before winning his first Academy Award for The French Connection in 1972.
He later won another Oscar for Unforgiven in 1994. Over the years, he starred in Mississippi Burning, Superman, The Conversation, Runaway Jury, and many other acclaimed films.
In 2008, he officially retired from acting to focus on writing novels. His passing marks the end of an era in Hollywood.
News of his death comes shortly after the announcement of actress Michelle Trachtenberg’s passing at the age of 39.
