Gruff in demeanor yet much beloved, Gene Hackman was one of the finest actors of his generation.
The 95-year-old actor was found dead in his New Mexico home with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog, authorities said. An investigation was ongoing, and foul play was not suspected. No further details were released.
Hackman played villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.
His work included Oscar-winning roles in “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” and a breakout performance in “Bonnie and Clyde.” He was nominated five times.
He also gave memorable turns as a blind hermit in “Young Frankenstein,” as comic book villain Lex Luthor in “Superman” and as the title character in Wes Anderson’s 2001 “The Royal Tenenbaums.” He played an uptight buffoon in “Birdcage,” a college coach in “Hoosiers” and a secretive surveillance expert in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation.”
Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist, in the mid-1980s.
FILE – Philip D’Antoni producer of the “The French Connection,” named best picture; Gene Hackman named “best actor” for his role in “The French Connection,”; Jane Fonda named “best actress” for “Klute” and William Friedkin, winner of “best achievement in directing” for “The French Connection,” pose for a photo, at the Academy Awards, March 27, 1971 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. (AP Photo, File)FILE – Actor Gene Hackman reacts during an interview on March 24, 1972. (AP Photo/George Brich, File)FILE – Actors Christopher Reeve, left, and co-star Gene Hackman arrive at the premiere of the movie “Superman” in Los Angeles, Ca., on Dec. 15, 1978. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)FILE – Actor Gene Hackman waves as he starts out for a practice run in his Toyota Celica, Feb. 5, 1983 at the Daytona International Speedway. (AP Photo/Bob Self, File)FILE – Actor Gene Hackman gives fictional Hickory High basketball players instructions during filming of the final game of the movie “Hoosiers” at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler University campus, Friday, Dec. 6, 1985 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland, File)FILE – Actor Gene Hackman, winner of Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards in March 1993. (AP Photo, File)FILE – Actor Gene Hackman with wife Betsy Arakawa in June 1993. (AP Photo, File)Actor Gene Hackman is seen in this 1993 file photo. (AP Photo/File)FILE – “The Royal Tenenbaums” cast member Gene Hackman poses at the premiere of the film in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Dec. 6, 2001. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
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