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Opening in the final weeks of an election cycle that eventually saw its subject Donald Trump re-elected as President of the United States, Ali Abbasi’s “The Apprentice” was one of 2024’s most controversial films. It became a political lightning rod to the point that Sebastian Stan, who played Trump in the 1980s-set film, reportedly couldn’t find a fellow actor willing to discuss it for Variety’s Actors on Actors series. But even if some people avoided the film, Stan is confident that Trump is a fan of it.

In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Sebastian Stan speculated that the president has repeatedly watched “The Apprentice,” suggesting that the film’s critical tone might be lost on the former real estate mogul.

“I would put money down he’s seen it 100 fucking times, of course, because he’s a narcissist,” Stan said. “And I bet you there’s...

Sometimes, making great art is an exercise in disappointing your heroes.

“I remember Gene Hackman, one of his advices to me when I worked with him was, ‘Never work with a first-time director,'” Willem Dafoe told IndieWire while discussing his new film “The Legend of Ochi,” which hails from first-time director Isaiah Saxon. “Obviously, I didn’t follow his advice, but may he rest in peace.” (Dafoe and the late Hackman starred together in 1988’s “Mississippi Burning.”)

Dafoe currently has his pick of coveted roles from elite auteurs — in 2024 alone, he starred in films from Robert Eggers, Yorgos Lanthimos, Tim Burton, and Jason Reitman. So it takes a lot for a new filmmaker to dazzle him. But Saxon and his directorial debut “The Legend of Ochi” were something special. A throwback to fantasy epics like “The NeverEnding Story,” the film immerses viewers in an ocean of matte paintings and...

Only one episode remains until Dr. Robby and the medical team at The Pitt finish out their long, chaotic shift. Before that, however, the first season's penultimate episode introduced two new characters into the fold that series star and executive producer Noah Wyle was very excited for. The first was a cameo for the Chucky fans, as Brad Dourif reunited on-screen with his daughter Fiona Dourif to play the in-universe father to her character, Dr. Cassie McKay. The other, meanwhile, gave some added depth to Robby, with Brothers & Sisters star Sarah Jane Morris stepping in to play the senior attending physician's ex-girlfriend, Janey. In an interview with TV Line, Wyle discussed both the personal and in-universe importance of bringing the two actors on board before the season finale.

Episode 14 of The Pitt, titled "8:00 P.M.," sees the emergency room team still dealing with the fallout of the mass shooting at PittFest,...

Mystery solved… well, sort of: The penultimate episode of The Pitt stopped short of revealing the identity of the PittFest shooter, but cleared troubled teen David of any wrongdoing.

Roughly a third of the way through Episode 14, chief medical officer Gloria informed the emergency department that S.W.A.T. found the shooter, already dead, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His identity and his motive remain unknown — but to Dana’s point, “Does it matter?”

More from TVLineHas <em>The Pitt’</em>s Dr. Robby Reached His Breaking Point? Noah Wyle Unpacks Devastating Last Scene in Episode 13TVLine’s Performer of the...

Just a year after delivering a memorable performance as Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, John Travolta came back as Miami Mobster in one of the decade's most celebrated comedies. In this 1995 gangster film, Travolta plays the character of Chili Palmer, a loan shark who had "an idea for a movie" and is fascinated with Hollywood filmmaking. He thinks that 'Hollywood ain't so different from the mob. Just a different kind of hustle.' And that's exactly what Barry Sonnenfeld's Get Shorty delivers–a gangster drama that's not about shootouts and heists but about the hilarious clash between the underworld and Hollywood.

Adapted from Elmore Leonard's novel and written by Scott Frank for the screen, Get Shorty is one of the comedies that knew exactly where to be witty, serious, and genuinely funny. Travolta, who was fresh from Pulp Fiction success, brings the cool, fashionable and...

The recent passing of the iconic and legendary actor Gene Hackman has led to innumerable accounts of his work ethic and the impact he made throughout decades of film work. Naturally, one of the other discussions has centered around how he inspired his fellow actors and actresses through those distinctive performances. The nature of his lengthy filmography is such that Hackman wound up working with many younger actors who are now titans of their generations. He had a fiery chemistry with Denzel Washington in the 1995 thriller "Crimson Tide," he worked with a young Willem Dafoe in the 1988 historical drama "Mississippi Burning," and in one of his last roles, he had to face off against John Cusack in "Runaway Jury." One actor with whom Hackman didn't exactly work next to, but who was still impacted by him, was Alec Baldwin.

It should be noted at the top that Hackman and Baldwin...

With a career that spanned five decades and saw him feature in such timeless classics as The French Connection, The Conversation, and Mississippi Burning, the late great Gene Hackman is nothing short of one of the biggest and most intriguing actors of the past 50 years. While he became known for his impact in searing dramas, his prowess extended to multiple genres, including comedies, legal thrillers, and major blockbusters. His commitment to Western movies is a defining component of his career as well.

The very private Gene Hackman will be allowed to retain some of that privacy posthumously, at least for a few more weeks.

Almost three weeks after the two-time Oscar winner and spouse Betsy Arakawa were discovered dead at their Santa Fe home, a New Mexico judge Monday granted their estate’s request to seal medical records. As well, Judge Matthew Wilson has sealed all police photos and video footage of the couple’s bodies and one of their dogs when they were found February 26.

Suffering from Alzheimer’s and heart disease, the 95-year-old Hackman is assumed to have died on or about February 18, according to New Mexico authorities. That was almost a week after 63-year-old Arakawa is said to have died as a result in part of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a disease primarily spread by rodents’ feces, as state medical officials and Santa Fe County Sheriff Adam Mendoza revealed.

Unlike...

Chicago – Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arawaka were found dead in their New Mexico home on February 26th. Arawaka died of a rare lung infection, the 95-year-old Hackman succumbed to natural causes. Photographer Joe Arce captured this Exclusive Portrait of Hackman in 2000.

The mystery and circumstances surrounding the couple’s death stayed in the headlines for weeks. They both had been deceased for several days before being discovered, and at first is was speculated that carbon monoxide poisoning might have been the culprit. But as the investigation continued, it was determined that Ms. Arawaka had died first on or around February 11th of a rare lung infection, and Hackman … suffering from Alzheimer’s disease … died one week later.

Actor Gene Hackman in 2000

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Gene Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California, but the family settled in Danville,...

One of the last movies of the late Gene Hackman has entered the Netflix Top 10 Global Movies chart 22 years after its initial release. Hackman was one of the most revered and successful actors in movie history, and enjoyed a strong filmography, which included a diverse mix of both blockbusters and character-driven dramas. He shot to prominence with early roles in movies like Bonnie and Clyde and I Never Sang For My Father before achieving global recognition and leading man status with the role of Popeye Doyle in William Friedkin's crime thriller The French Connection.

Hackman won an Oscar for his performance and reprised his role in the follow-up The French Connection II. He then went on to star in a number of successful and critically acclaimed box office hits, including Superman, Superman II, Mississippi Burning, and Unforgiven, for which he won his second Oscar. The '90s brought less critical acclaim,...

Gene Hackman, nothing less than a titan of the screen, has left us. He was announced dead at the age of 95, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs, under strange circumstances that are still being investigated. Hackman left the world with a career full of iconic performances, including two Oscar-winning turns in The French Connection and Unforgiven, as well as nominations for Bonnie and Clyde, I Never Sang For My Father, and Mississippi Burning.

This is only scratching the surface of his legacy; mainstream audiences most likely recognize him as Lex Luthor in the 1978 Superman, as the mix of comedy and menace he brought to the role defined one of the most iconic versions of that character. Hackman actually retired from acting in 2004, citing how the intensity of being on set was having effects on his heart condition. Yet one of his final roles in The Royal Tenenbaums,...

Words cannot express the monumental loss of Gene Hackman, arguably the finest actor of any Hollywood generation. As investigators sift through the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Hackman, his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and one of their dogs, pointing fans toward one of Hackman's final TV appearances may help ease the pain.

In 2008, well into retirement, Hackman briefly appeared on The Food Network's culinary road show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Humble, humorous, down-to-earth, and as natural in front of non-famous locals as he was in front of a movie camera, Hackman's delightful cameo sheds insight into his small-town New Mexico life post-Hollywood.

Gene Hackman Was a One-of-a-Kind Performer

For younger crowds who may be unaware of Gene Hackman's unparalleled acting greatness, the two-time Oscar winner amassed 101 credits from 1961 to 2004. After breaking out in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967, Hackman showcased tremendous range and natural onscreen charisma across all genres.

While Gene Hackman stayed busy throughout his acting career, he seemingly worked nonstop in the late 1980s, especially in 1988, when he had five films in theatrical release. Whether Hackman appeared in good films during this period, like the great 1987 thriller No Way Out, or bad films, like Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, didn’t seem to matter to the actor, who later admitted that his incessant work schedule was grounded in his loneliness.

One of Hackman’s most underrated performances is featured in the 1989 political action thriller film The Package, in which he plays Johnny Gallagher, a Green Beret sergeant who is given the seemingly menial task of escorting a disgraced sergeant, played by Tommy Lee Jones, from West Berlin to the United States for a court-martial trial. However, after the prisoner escapes his custody, Gallagher becomes immersed in a conspiracy that threatens to trigger World War III.

The Package...

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman died from heart disease and complications related to Alzheimer’s, while his wife, Betsy Arakawa, succumbed to a rare respiratory illness, according to findings released by New Mexico authorities. The couple, who had lived privately in Santa Fe for decades, died about a week apart in their home before being discovered on February 26.

A forensic report from the New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner’s office detailed that Hackman, 95, passed away due to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s as a contributing factor. His pacemaker reportedly stopped functioning on or around February 17, indicating the estimated time of his death. Autopsy results showed no signs of trauma, but evidence suggested Hackman had not eaten for several days prior to his death.

Arakawa, 65, died first, likely on February 11, after contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (Hps), a severe respiratory illness linked to exposure to rodent droppings. According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza,...

The news that Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, had been found dead sent shockwaves through Hollywood. Hackman had an extraordinary career, winning Academy Awards for his roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven.

Of course, many of you will know him best for playing the villainous Lex Luthor in three Superman movies released between 1978 and 1987. He retired from acting in 2004 after Welcome to Mooseport and wrote several novels, including Justice for None.

The unusual circumstances surrounding Hackman and Arakawa's deaths have raised big questions and we finally have some answers. Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator held a press conference yesterday. She confirmed that Hackman died of cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease as a significant contributing factor.

As for Arakawa, she's believed to have died around a week before her husband from hantavirus, a potentially fatal virus transmitted by mice.

Since the death of Gene Hackman, fans have been revisiting many of the actor’s movies across various streaming platforms. Now it is the turn of his 1986 underdog basketball movie Hoosiers to enjoy its time in the spotlight, and this is one of the movies that sits right up there with the best of Hackman’s long and varied career.

Charting at number four on the global Freevee chart, Hoosiers is a story that combines those classic 80s themes of small-town grit and the spirited teamwork of a group of people who are destined for lesser things until they are brought into the orbit of the one person who can help them find their true potential. While it may seem like a tried and overused plot, Hoosiers was probably the template for many other movies with a similar storyline that followed.

Set in rural Indiana during the 1950s, the film stars Hackman as Norman Dale,...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Chaos: The Manson Murders (Errol Morris)

Over half a century later, what new information can be gleaned from the nights of August 9 and 10, 1969? Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring’s riveting (if convoluted) book Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties––released in June 2019, between the Cannes premiere and theatrical release of Quentin Tarantino’s cathartic rewrite of that history––argues that while all the evidence of the murders has been gleaned, there’s a complex and knotty web of conspiracies for the motivations, some more plausible than others. To pare down the 528-page book to its most overarching theory, it postulates Manson may have been allowed (and perhaps even directed) by the CIA to concoct a reign...

As Hollywood continues to mourn the death of acting legend Gene Hackman, one of his highest-rated films finds a new streaming home, allowing fans to catch up with some of his best work. Hackman and fellow Oscar-winner Kevin Costner's neo-noir classic, No Way Out, is now available on Amazon Prime Video.

Prime Video recently premiered No Way Out, which made its theatrical debut in 1987. The film has been available to stream on Apple TV and Tubi, with Prime subscribers becoming the latest to check out the Roger Donaldson-helmed thriller.

RelatedGene Hackman's Home Had 'Minuscule' Gas Leak, 'Not Believed to Be a Factor' in Mysterious Deaths

The New Mexico Gas Company has shared the findings of its investigation of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's home.

Orion Pictures

Based on Kenneth Fearing's 1946 novel, The Big Clock, No Way Out sees Costner play U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell,...

Bollywood Mascot: (Morgan Freeman) The 97th Academy Awards took a deeply emotional turn as Hollywood honored the late Gene Hackman during its In Memoriam segment. The two-time Oscar-winning actor, known for his powerful performances in The French Connection and Unforgiven, was remembered for his immense contribution to cinema.

Among those paying tribute was Morgan Freeman, who delivered a moving speech reflecting on Hackman’s career and legacy. With his signature deep voice and heartfelt words, Freeman spoke about Hackman’s ability to transform every role he took on, leaving an unforgettable mark on the industry. He recalled their time working together and emphasized the profound impact Hackman had on generations of actors.

Hackman, who passed away recently, was known for his incredible versatility, seamlessly transitioning from intense crime dramas to thought-provoking character studies. With a career spanning over five decades, he starred in some of the most iconic films of all time,...

One legend of cinema paid tribute to another on Sunday night as Morgan Freeman took to the stage at the Oscars and paid tribute to Gene Hackman. Having starred together in Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, there could be no one better to deliver the kind of tribute that Hackman deserved. The speech was made ahead of the Academy's in memoriam section, which also featured tributes to James Earl Jones, Maggie Smith, David Lynch, and the many other stars that have been lost in the last year. In his speech, Freeman said:

“This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman. I had the pleasure of working alongside gene on two films, ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Under Suspicion.’ Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work. Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy.

The Oscars paid tribute to Gene Hackman during Sunday’s ceremony, with the actor’s “Unforgiven” co-star Morgan Freeman introducing an honor for the late star. The speech preceded the ceremony’s in memoriam, honoring the industry figures who have died in the previous year.

“This week, our community lost a giant. And I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,” Freeman began in his speech. “I had the pleasure of working alongside gene on two films, ‘Unforgiven’ and ‘Under Suspicion.’ Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.”

“Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,'” Freeman continued. “I think I speak for us all when I say, ‘Gene, you will be remembered for that, and so much more.

The news of Gene Hackman’s death saw tributes from all generations of Hollywood pouring over the last week, and one of the latest comes from the actor who had the impossible task of taking over one of Hackman’s best-known roles. Michael Rosenbaum starred as Superman villain Lex Luthor in the TV series Smallville, decades after Hackman made the part iconic with his performance in Christopher Reeves’ comic book movies. In a personal tribute, the actor shared an image of a poster signed by Hackman, citing him as “the second best Lex Luthor.”

Hackman and his wife were discovered at their home towards the end of last week, and while the investigation into their death is still being investigated, the tragic news hit many Hollywood stars, and fans of Hackman’s huge legacy of work, really hard. For Rosenbaum, there was a connection of a different kind to many,...

Authorities in Santa Fe are investigating the deaths of Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, after the couple was found in their home earlier this week. Investigators believe Hackman may have died nine days before the discovery of their bodies, based on data from his pacemaker.

Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were found on Wednesday by a maintenance worker who entered the home after receiving no response at the door. A neighborhood security officer looked through a window and saw their bodies before contacting law enforcement. A German Shepherd was also found dead inside the home, while two other dogs were discovered alive.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that there were no signs of trauma or foul play, and preliminary findings ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning. Investigators retrieved cell phones and other items as they work to establish a timeline. Toxicology reports and autopsy results are expected to take months.

The death of Gene Hackman and his wife has continued to dominate headlines as new details come to light about the strange circumstances surrounding the Oscar-winning actor’s passing. While the latest reports have said it could be “months” before the results of toxicology reports reveal exactly what caused the double death, and that of one of the couple’s dogs, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza has revealed a sad piece of information that suggests Hackman died much earlier than originally believed. As per Deadline, Mendoza said in a short press conference:

“An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr. Hackman's pacemaker. This revealed that his last event was recorded on February 17, 2025, I was advised that a more thorough investigation will be completed.”

RelatedThe 15 Best Gene Hackman Movies, Ranked

Gene Hackman died today, Feb. 27, and we're remembering the great actor with his best films.

There are currently many factors about...

The late Gene Hackman will be honored at the 97th Oscars despite the timing of his shocking death, which came just days before the ceremony is scheduled to be held. A source "who works on the show and has knowledge of the plans" revealed to TheWrap that a tribute to Hackman will be included during the broadcast. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences "declined to comment" on the situation when the publication reached out to confirm the news.

Hackman will likely be recognized during the Oscars' yearly In Memoriam tribute. The prolific actor won two Academy Awards over the course of his illustrious career. Hackman was first recognized for his incomparable portrayal of Popeye Doyle in The French Connection with a Best Actor Oscar. 21 years later, he walked away with another golden statue, but this time for Best Supporting Actor in Clint Eastwood’s classic Western, Unforgiven.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday his department is still waiting for final autopsy and toxicology reports on the deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, but has a fair idea of when the Oscar winner actually died.

An initial interrogation was conducted of Mr. Hackman pacemaker,” the Sheriff said at a short press conference today. “This revealed that his last event was recorded on February 17, 2025, I was advised that a more thorough investigation will be completed.”

Noting that getting final autopsy and toxicology reports “could take months,” Mendoza added that initial results seem to rule out carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause of the deaths of the 95-year-old Hackman, the 63-year-old Arakawa and one of their dogs. Amidst some conflicting information over the past 48 hours, the Sheriff said “there were no apparent signs of foul play” in the Hackmans’ deaths.

Married since 1991 and notoriously private, Hackman and...

Investigators into the deaths of Oscar winner Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa believe Hackman may have been dead for nine days by the time the couple were found in their New Mexico home on Wednesday.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told a press conference earlier on Friday that the “last event” of Hackman’s pacemaker was on February 17. “According to the pathologist that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life,” said Mendoza.

The officer added that an autopsy found no external trauma to either person and no evidence of death by carbon monoxide.

The Oscars will pay tribute to Gene Hackman on Sunday’s show, which takes place only four days after the bodies of the actor and his wife were discovered in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

An individual who works on the show and has knowledge of the plans told TheWrap that the late actor, a five-time Oscar nominee and two-time winner, will receive a tribute on the show. It is believed that he will most likely be added to the In Memoriam segment of the ceremony, although typically that film would have been locked a week or two prior to the show.

The Academy never reveals in advance who will be included in the In Memoriam, and it declined to comment when TheWrap asked if Hackman would be a last-minute addition to the show.

The legendary actor, who died at the age of 95, was nominated for Best Actor...

Hollywood is in mourning today following the death of Oscar-winner and Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa. The couple were found dead in their home in Santa Fe. Hackman was 95, while Arakawa was 63. Following the tragic news, various names from both the big and small screens have taken to social media to pay tribute to the Superman and Unforgiven star’s unmatched cinematic legacy.

Following the initial wave of tributes, more Hollywood icons that have worked with Hackman added their own stories and memories to the endless posts from the actor's fans. Bill Murray spoke to the Associated Press about working with Hackman on The Royal Tenenbaums, noting how being a veteran of the industry could make him "difficult" to work with, but only because he was "really good."

“He was a tough nut, Gene Hackman, but he was really good and he was really difficult.

Acting legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their Santa Fe home in New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. The Oscar-winning actor was 95 and his wife was 63 at the time of their deaths. Their cause of death has yet to be determined, although the county sheriff’s office initially rejected any foul play suspicions.

Gene Hackman as Harry R. Caul in The Conversation | Credits: Paramount Pictures

However, the detectives in the case have filed an application for a search warrant of Hackman’s home and premises. They claimed that the circumstances surrounding the death were “suspicious enough” to warrant a thorough investigation.

What makes Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s death “suspicious”? Gene Hackman in his Oscar-winning role in Unforgiven | Credits: Warner Bros.

Detective Roy Arndt with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office asked for a search warrant from a judge, stating that actor Gene...

Gene Hackman, the legendary everyman actor who won two Oscars before stepping away from Hollywood in 2004, and Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, N.M., home on Wednesday. Hackman was 95. Arakawa, whom he married in 1991, was 64.

While authorities did not suspect foul play, the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa have been ruled suspicious. A detective's affidavit stated that "an open prescription bottle scattered pills" were found on a bathroom counter near Arakawa's body. One of the couple’s dog, a German shepherd, was found dead in the bathroom closet, about 15 feet from Arakawa. Two other family dogs were found alive.

A maintenance worker discovered the bodies on Wednesday. Arakawa was found in the bathroom near a space heater. Her body showed signs of decomposition, per the detective report. Hackman's body, in a similar state, was found in the mud room appearing as if he had "suddenly fallen.

No cause of death has been determined so far for Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, but New Mexico police say the situation “remains an open investigation.”

With affidavits, search warrants and statements calling the death of the two-time Oscar winner, his wife and their dog late Wednesday “suspicious enough in nature,” the Santa Fe Sheriff’s office is reiterating Thursday that “there were no apparent signs of foul play.”

In a just released statement from the Sheriff Adan Mendoza-led department, the cops are making early findings public, with a lot still left to be determined.

“In the early hours of Thursday, February 27, 2025, Hackman and Arakawa were transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator,” the sheriff’s office said this afternoon, after the bodies were discovered in the early afternoon Wednesday Santa Fe time.

Related: Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Francis Ford Coppola, ‘Superman’ Costar Valerie Perrine And More Pay...

Gene Hackman's tragic death at 95 on February 26, 2025 has shocked the world, while also reminding many movie aficionados that he was one of the best actors in his generation. In fact, an argument could be made that Hackman was the best actor ever, and his two Academy Award wins for "The French Connection" (1971) and "Unforgiven" (1991) -- among with his three other nominations for "Bonnie and Clyde" (1968), "I Never Sang For My Father" (1970), and "Mississippi Burning" (1988) -- certainly back up that kind of talk. But what did Hackman himself think of his work, and what did he consider his favorite role? The answer might not be what you think.

In a 1988 interview with Film Comment, Hackman was asked what his favorite movie from his own work is. Based on the strength of his own performance, the actor's choice was curious: Jerry Schatzberg's "Scarecrow" (1973), a road movie where Hackman and Al Pacino play Max and Lion,...

Gruff. Authoritative. Crafty. Intense.

Gene Hackman was one of those 20th century legacy actors who — along with the likes of Harrison Ford and Clint Eastwood — always brought a uniquely mesmerizing tough competence to his characters. Whether playing a volatile cop in The French Connection, a criminal mastermind in Superman or a murderous sheriff in Unforgiven, Hackman delivered dialogue with an un-showy pragmatism. He often conveyed a simmering undercurrent of anger or a twinkle of dry humor — or both at the same time. Hackman’s typical onscreen persona was also surprisingly versatile, unlike some of his contemporaries. He could convincingly play the hero or the heel and still seem like, well, like Gene Hackman. Even his good guys felt borderline villainous; he helped define “antihero.”

With the tragic news Thursday of Hackman’s death at the age of 95, The Hollywood Reporter has assembled some of the actor’s finest and most memorable scenes.

The news of Gene Hackman’s passing was an undeniable tragedy.

This was, after all, a man who had contributed so much to the world of cinema through performances that seemed both challenging and extremely comfortable. While he had not performed in a movie since 2004’s “Welcome to Mooseport,” an inglorious final role if there ever was one, there was always the idea that he could come back – would come back – if the character was too good to pass up.

These are 11 performances that immediately sprang to mind when we heard of Hackman’s death. We could make it twice as long – maybe three times as long – without breaking a sweat. The list of sterling performances from the master goes on and on. This is just a sample. Use it as a guide or maybe a starting point. The worlds of Hackman are infinite.

Warner Bros. “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967)

Gene...

Gene Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, and his granddaughter Annie said they are “devastated” after the two-time Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday. He was 95 and she was 64.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” the family told TheWrap in a Thursday statement. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

As TheWrap previously reported, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office insists Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths are not suspicious despite multiple media reports regarding search warrants suggesting the contrary. The department states no foul play is suspected in the case, though the investigation in ongoing.

Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Nathan Lane, Viola Davis, Josh Brolin, and Superman actress Valerie Perrine are among the stars mourning Gene Hackman.

The 95-year-old legend and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead on Wednesday, alongside their dog, in their Santa Fe, N.M., home. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office initially said foul play is not suspected, and there's an "active and ongoing investigation" into their deaths. In a search warrant affidavit released Thursday, authorities said their deaths are "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," and that there were "no obvious signs of a gas leak."

Tributes poured in for the beloved actor after the news broke early Thursday. Hackman won two Oscars -- Best Actor for 1971's The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor for 1992's Unforgiven -- and had three other nominations for Bonnie & Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father...

The news that actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe has shocked the industry and led to widespread tributes for one of the true greats of cinema.

Clint Eastwood, who directed and starred with Hackman in 1992’s Unforgiven, said in a statement to Deadline: “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”

Writer-director Mel Brooks reminisced about working with Hackman on his Academy Award-nominated 1974 comedy classic Young Frankenstein.

“I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene—Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie Young Frankenstein,” wrote Brooks on X. “He said, ‘Do you think Mel would let me play it? I’ve always wanted to do a comedy.

The tragic deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, the classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, has now been deemed “suspicious” in nature. This shocking news comes via a search warrant affidavit released by New Mexico authorities, which states that the deaths of the couple, who were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, is “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation."

The affidavit reveals that the investigators saw “no obvious signs of a gas leak,” as well as revealing other unusual details about how the couple were found. Including that “the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened.” You can read details of the findings below:

“Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front...

Gene Hackman’s death has raised enough suspicion among the Santa Fe police that they have obtained a search warrant for the Oscar winner’s home after the nonagenarian, his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs were found dead last night.

“At this time; the manner and cause of death pertaining to Eugene ‘Gene’ Allen Hackman and Betsy Arakawa passing is unknown,” said Santa Fe Sheriff’s department Det. Roy Arndt late Wednesday night in an affidavit submitted to a state judge just hours after the bodies were discovered in the couple’s longtime New Mexico home.

“Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another...

Two-time Oscar winner, Gene Hackman has died at the age of 95. The iconic actor was found dead at their Santa Fe, N.M. home alongside his 63-year-old classical pianist wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog.

Whilst not deemed suspicious, their deaths are currently being investigated.

Former Marine turned actor Hackman, who won two Oscars for his roles in 1971’s ‘The French Connection’ and 1992’s ‘Unforgiven’ made his mark in Hollywood with his role as Clyde Barrow’s explosive older brother in the 1967 film ‘Bonnie and Clyde,’ which brought him his first Oscar nomination in supporting actor. He also found himself with Oscar nominations for this roles as FBI Special Agent Rupert Anderson in ‘Mississippi Burning,’ Gene Garrison in Gil Cates’ ‘I Never Sang for My Father,’

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Having appeared in over 80 films his career spanned from the...

Hollywood is in mourning today following the death of Oscar-winner and Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa. The couple were found dead in their home in Santa Fe. Hackman was 95, while Arakawa was 63. Following the tragic news, various names from both the big and small screens have taken to social media to pay tribute to the Superman and Unforgiven star’s unmatched cinematic legacy.

Director Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Hackman in the Academy Award-nominated neo-noir thriller The Conversation, led the tributes, taking to Instagram to call the actor "inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity."

"The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution."

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Gene Hackman died today, Feb. 27, and...

Gene Hackman was one of the most versatile and accomplished character actors on film. He was appreciated by critics and audiences alike for his clean, no-nonsense style of acting. In his film work, Hackman was famed for the every-man quality that audiences of all types could identify with, which he demonstrated in the more than 80 films in which he appeared.

Hackman's subtle work was showered with honors throughout his film career, which lasted over half a century. He won two Academy Awards (for 1971's "The French Connection" with William Friedkin and 1992's "Unforgiven" with Clint Eastwood) from five nominations. He was an honorary Cecil B. DeMille Award recipient at the Golden Globes and won three competitive Globes from eight nominations. He is also a Screen Actors Guild Award winner from his two nominations.

After appearing in 2004's "Welcome to Mooseport," Hackman stepped away from screen acting and began writing thriller novels.

Hollywood has lost one of its great screen legends.

Gene Hackman was found dead in his Santa Fe, N.M. home on Feb. 26, 2025, at the age of 95. Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, also died in the couple's house, as did their dog. Authorities have not yet released a cause of death but said foul play was not suspected.

Before his death, Hackman spent the last 21 years retired from acting. However, even after two decades away from the screen, he was remembered as one the most versatile and accomplished character actors on film -- appreciated by critics and audiences for his clean, no-nonsense acting style.  In his film work, Hackman was famed for the every-man quality of his work, with which audiences of all types could identify, which he demonstrated in the more than 80 films in which he appeared.

SEEOscar Best Actor Gallery: Every Winner in Academy Award History

Hackman's subtle work...

Gene Hackman’s life and legacy are being remembered by fellow Hollywood icons.

The two-time Oscar winner Hackman was found dead at age 95. His 63-year-old wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were deceased as well inside their Santa Fe, New Mexico home. While reports claimed there was “no immediate indication of foul play,” a cause of death was not provided at print.

Hackman’s breakout role was in 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde.” He later went on to star in 1971’s “The French Connection” and Clint Eastwood’s 1992 feature “Unforgiven,” winning Academy Awards for both performances. Hackman led Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 film “The Conversation,” with other iconic turns in “Hoosiers,” “Mississippi Burning,” “The Firm,” “The Birdcage,” “Postcards from the Edge,” “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and more. Read his full obituary here.

Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Hackman in “The Conversation,” remembered the late actor on Instagram.

“The loss of a great artist,...

After Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday, his celebrity peers began honoring the two-time Oscar-winning actor’s life with touching tributes early Thursday morning.

Viola Davis wrote, “Loved you in everything! ‘The Conversation,’ ‘The French Connection,’ ‘The Poseidon Adventure,’ ‘Unforgiven’ — tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.”

Francis Ford Coppola wrote, “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”

Edgar Wright wrote, “The greatest…”

Josh Brolin wrote, “I am crushed by the sudden deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa (and their dog). Crushed. He was always one of my favorites. Not many who beat to...

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed. A cause of death for the Oscar-winning actor, 95, and his wife, 64, was not revealed but Mendoza said no foul play was suspected.

An investigation into their deaths is ongoing. According to Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila, the couple was found dead at around 1:45 p.m. local time on Wednesday after a neighbor called in a welfare check, per Albuquerque’s KOB4.

Hackman and Arakawa, a classical pianist, married in 1991. Their dog was also found deceased.

An acting giant, Hackman was born in San Bernadino, California, and enlisted in the military at age 16, lying about his age to get in. He served over four years as a field operator in the Marines before pursuing acting in 1956 at the San Bernadino...

According to reports, two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman passed away, along with his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa and dog, in their home.

A statement from Sante Fe, New Mexico’s sheriff’s office notes that the legendary actor, aged 95, and his wife, aged 64, died on Wednesday, February 26 at 1:45 p.m.

The sheriff’s office has ruled out foul play as a factor in these deaths at this time, but the exact cause of the deaths has yet to be determined.

The statement goes on to say that an ongoing and active investigation into this by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is still underway.

Gene Hackman’s Legacy

The actor was a former Marine and had a legendary career that spanned over six decades. He worked on over 80 movies, as well as television and stage productions. Hackman’s career began in the early ‘60s.

Gene scored his first...

Unfortunately, we have to get the day started with some sad news today, as it has been reported that we’ve lost one of the great legends of cinema, Gene Hackman, at the age of 95. Hackman, his retired pianist wife, 63-year-old Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were all found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. Yahoo reports that New Mexico police have said that the causes of death are under investigation, “but they do not believe foul play is a factor at this time.” Of course, there’s a lot of speculation going around that the cause of death may be carbon monoxide poisoning, but nothing has been confirmed as of right now.

Born on January 30, 1930 in San Bernadino, California, Eugene Allen Hackman did a lot of moving around in his younger years, but had already decided that he wanted to be an actor...

Gene Hackman, the two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in films like The French Connection and Unforgiven, has died at the age of 95.

Hackman, his wife Betsy, and their dog were found dead at their home in New Mexico on Wednesday after deputies performed a welfare check, according to CNN. While there were no visible signs of foul play, investigators deemed their deaths “suspicious” after finding “no obvious signs of a gas leak” and the front door of their home “unsecured and opened.”

Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California on January 30th, 1930. Lying about his age, he enlisted in the Marine Corps when he was just 16, serving four years as a field radio operator before being stationed in China, Hawaii, and Japan. He was discharged in 1951.

As he began to pursue an acting career, Hackman joined the historic Pasadena Playhouse, where he met fellow aspiring actor Dustin Hoffman.