Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home in Santa Fe last night. The circumstances are still a mystery, but no foul play is currently suspected. Hackman was 95 and his wife, a classical pianist, was 63. Their dog was also found dead.
I haven't seen all of his films, but I really liked him in the ones I have seen, including, but not limited to, The French Connection, The Unforgiven, March or Die and Scarecrow. His cameo in Young Frankenstein was hilarious.
One of the last of the greats. RIP.
Here's the famous car chase from The French Connection.
Update Strange details keep trickling out about these deaths: "Hackman and Wife Found ‘Mummified’ in Santa Fe Compound – Pills Found Scattered in Bathroom".
Update II I've always loved the opening scene from March or Die. This is Gene Hackman as an officer of the French Foreign Legion, returning with his troops from the European battlefields of WWI, preparing to redeploy to North Africa.
It's near impossible to see all his films.
ReplyDeleteIn the movie PCU, one guy's thesis is that there's always a Gene Hackman or Michael Caine movie on.
It was true, at the time.
I was looking through his filmography this morning and his output was truly prolific.
DeleteA minor comdey role which still stands out was in Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, uncredited, 'Where are you going? I was going to make espresso!'
DeleteYes, that was an extremely funny bit!
DeleteWhen I heard the news yesterday I wondered if it was a suicide pact. Sad way to go.
ReplyDeleteA commenter at Ace's was wondering if maybe Hackman died from natural causes, and his wife was overwhelmed with grief, and then killed herself (plus the dog, for some reason). Maybe the police will be able to figure it out.
DeleteIt's really sad. Late last year, somebody took a picture of Gene Hackman in line at the drive-through at a McDonald's, I believe it was. Just a regular guy, an old man looking to buy lunch.
ReplyDelete