Ken Gargett Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Just heard the news that Gene Hackman (and wife and dog????) had passed. terribly sad. one of my all time favourite actors. a superstar. 1 8
joeruby Posted February 27 Posted February 27 A favourite of mine too - still short on facts however hearing they died of carbon monoxide poisoning - May they RIP.
westg Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Damn. A superstar alright. A terrific actor one of my favourites as well.
JohnS Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa found dead in their New Mexico home, police say By Lex Harvey and Todd Leopold, CNN, Updated 4:29 AM EST, Thu February 27, 2025 Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa arrive at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, in 2003. Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images CNN - Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in New Mexico, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office told CNN. He was 95. Their cause of death has not been confirmed but it is not believed to be foul play, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila told CNN Thursday morning. Deputies responded to a welfare check request at the home around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday and found Hackman, Arakawa and a dog deceased, Womack-Avila said. CNN has reached out to Hackman’s representatives. Hackman’s performances in such films as “The French Connection,” “Hoosiers,” “Unforgiven” and “The Firm” elevated character roles to leading-man levels. Hackman’s best roles were often of conflicted authority figures or surprisingly clever white-collar villains. Many held a hint – sometimes more than a hint – of menace. Gene Hackman in "The French Connection." Bettmann Archive/Getty Images He won an Oscar for his portrayal of New York cop Popeye Doyle in 1971’s “The French Connection,” a detective who gets his man but at a high cost. His surveillance expert in 1974’s “The Conversation” is single-minded to the point of obsession, losing all perspective. He was 36 before he broke through in 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde,” a role he got after losing the part of Mr. Robinson in “The Graduate.” Before that, he’d served in the Marines, scuffled in California and New York – sometimes with a roommate, “Graduate” star Dustin Hoffman – and worked odd jobs, including truck driver and doorman. Hackman retired at 74. He had lived in Santa Fe in recent decades with Arakawa, a former classical pianist, and largely stayed out of the public eye. Hackman had three children, whom he shared with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese. This is a developing story and will be updated. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/27/entertainment/gene-hackman-betsy-arakawa-death/index.html
JohnS Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Gene Hackman retired from acting 21 years ago. Frankly, it doesn't seem that long ago. He had moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and was leading a quiet life there for years. Despite New Mexico having a desert region, it also has a mountainous region too and so its climate varies greatly. I had a look tonight at the 10-day weather forecast for Santa Fe and it is quite cold, nights are below freezing and daytime temperatures aren't much better. So, I want to believe that a 95 year-old man, his wife and dog and a heating accident which led to a carbon monoxide leak. It's not uncommon a story. Weird Al Yankovic's parents passed away via an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning episode twenty years ago and they were both in their eighties. 3 1
Popular Post joeruby Posted February 27 Popular Post Posted February 27 One of my favourite movies of Gene’s - Crimson Tide, enjoying Monte 2s with Denzel Washington -‘How are you enjoying the cigar? It’s good Sir - Don’t like them too much, they’re more expensive than drugs! Ain't that the truth... RIP 6
La_Tigre Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Certainly something we all can learn by and certainly for myself. My favorite was his role in Unforgiven. But to be honest I need to watch or rewatch a bunch of his older movies. Rest in Peace Hackman family. 1
Ken Gargett Posted February 27 Author Posted February 27 8 hours ago, JohnS said: Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa found dead in their New Mexico home, police say By Lex Harvey and Todd Leopold, CNN, Updated 4:29 AM EST, Thu February 27, 2025 CNN - Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in New Mexico, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office told CNN. He was 95. Their cause of death has not been confirmed but it is not believed to be foul play, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila told CNN Thursday morning. Deputies responded to a welfare check request at the home around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday and found Hackman, Arakawa and a dog deceased, Womack-Avila said. CNN has reached out to Hackman’s representatives. Hackman’s performances in such films as “The French Connection,” “Hoosiers,” “Unforgiven” and “The Firm” elevated character roles to leading-man levels. Hackman’s best roles were often of conflicted authority figures or surprisingly clever white-collar villains. Many held a hint – sometimes more than a hint – of menace. He won an Oscar for his portrayal of New York cop Popeye Doyle in 1971’s “The French Connection,” a detective who gets his man but at a high cost. His surveillance expert in 1974’s “The Conversation” is single-minded to the point of obsession, losing all perspective. He was 36 before he broke through in 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde,” a role he got after losing the part of Mr. Robinson in “The Graduate.” Before that, he’d served in the Marines, scuffled in California and New York – sometimes with a roommate, “Graduate” star Dustin Hoffman – and worked odd jobs, including truck driver and doorman. Hackman retired at 74. He had lived in Santa Fe in recent decades with Arakawa, a former classical pianist, and largely stayed out of the public eye. Hackman had three children, whom he shared with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese. This is a developing story and will be updated. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/27/entertainment/gene-hackman-betsy-arakawa-death/index.html long time since i saw the French connection but i thought he didn't get his man in that movie - got him in the French connection 2. i may be wrong.
BrightonCorgi Posted February 27 Posted February 27 2 hours ago, JohnS said: ...So, I want to believe that a 95 year-old man, his wife and dog and a heating accident which led to a carbon monoxide leak. It's not uncommon a story. Weird Al Yankovic's parents passed away via an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning episode twenty years ago and they were both in their eighties. I was thinking the same as soon as I heard the news. 😞 1
LaoFan Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Hoosiers is still the best hoops movie of all time. Enemy of the State is a top-100 for me. I realize he has more gems, but I don't have the mileage to appreciate them as much as you old bucks 😆 RIP
anacostiakat Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Great actor. We have sorely missed him in retirement. They are saying possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Rest easy Popeye! 1
MrBirdman Posted February 27 Posted February 27 8 hours ago, joeruby said: One of my favourite movies of Gene’s - Crimson Tide, enjoying Monte 2s with Denzel Washington -‘How are you enjoying the cigar? It’s good Sir - Don’t like them too much, they’re more expensive than drugs! Ain't that the truth... RIP Great movie, great cast. RIP Mr. Hackman. 1
SigmundChurchill Posted February 27 Posted February 27 8 hours ago, JohnS said: Gene Hackman retired from acting 21 years ago. Frankly, it doesn't seem that long ago. He had moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and was leading a quiet life there for years. Despite New Mexico having a desert region, it also has a mountainous region too and so its climate varies greatly. I had a look tonight at the 10-day weather forecast for Santa Fe and it is quite cold, nights are below freezing and daytime temperatures aren't much better. So, I want to believe that a 95 year-old man, his wife and dog and a heating accident which led to a carbon monoxide leak. It's not uncommon a story. Weird Al Yankovic's parents passed away via an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning episode twenty years ago and they were both in their eighties. Yes, I have been to Santa Fe around this time of year. The nights get frigid. Your assessment is probably correct. 2
Woody Hayes Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Former Jarhead. An old school, masculine guy not like the pretty boys of today. 3
SigmundChurchill Posted February 27 Posted February 27 1 hour ago, SigmundChurchill said: Yes, I have been to Santa Fe around this time of year. The nights get frigid. Your assessment is probably correct. Just saw on the news that there were prescription pills scattered near the wife, so who knows. 1
VeguerosMAN Posted February 27 Posted February 27 2 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said: Just saw on the news that there were prescription pills scattered near the wife, so who knows. Could be homicide and make it look like "accident" or "suicide". Who knows? Also the heater was moved if I am not mistaken, so carbon monoxide poisoning isn't the cause of death in theory. 1
Chibearsv Posted February 27 Posted February 27 Loved him as Royal Tenenbaum. Reminded me a lot of my grandfather. 2
JohnS Posted February 27 Posted February 27 3 hours ago, Woody Hayes said: Former Jarhead. An old school, masculine guy not like the pretty boys of today. One would barely recognise him in his Marine Corps days, I'd think... 3 1
BrightonCorgi Posted February 27 Posted February 27 7 hours ago, SigmundChurchill said: Just saw on the news that there were prescription pills scattered near the wife, so who knows. And the dog too?
VeguerosMAN Posted February 27 Posted February 27 4 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said: and the dog too? The dog might have swallowed the pills, but very unlikely. Poor dog.
BrightonCorgi Posted February 28 Posted February 28 I am thinking it's a robbery if it's not carbon poisoning. S American pro gangs are robbing throughout the South West. Probably too much gas to knock them out and they died.
Ken Gargett Posted February 28 Author Posted February 28 16 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said: I am thinking it's a robbery if it's not carbon poisoning. S American pro gangs are robbing throughout the South West. Probably too much gas to knock them out and they died. i'm sure we'll find out more in time but i am not on board this one - might be proved wrong. but the bloke was 95. who on earth is going to bother with gas for a frail old man. one good shove. he'd still be on the ground by the time you've loaded the truck. the place was locked, apparently, when the bloke who found them arrived. thieves going to lock up? open bottle of pills. Occam's razor? also, there were two other German Shepherds there, along with the dead one. unharmed. not sure that they would have just sat around while a gang robbed the place. is there evidence of gangs going around with gas? it seems a very awkward way to conduct robberies. 1
riderpride Posted February 28 Posted February 28 RIP Gene. Absolutely hated him till I was old enough to understand that he was just soooo good at playing the bad guy. Also not afraid to take on a comedic role early in his career. Not sure what happen in 'The Repacements', but he was the only reason I made it through. Cheers 2
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