The late Gene Hackman, 95, who retired from acting almost two decades ago, stunned fans with his changed appearance.
In his final years, he led a quiet life working on his ranch and enjoying time with his younger wife.
Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home, police said. The couple was found dead alongside their dog.Born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, Eugene “Gene” Allen Hackman was a retired American actor with an impressive career spanning over 60 years. He was nominated for 39 awards and won 33, including two Oscars, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globes, a Silver Bear, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

His most notable performances include “The French Connection” (1971), “Unforgiven” (1992), “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967), “The Conversation” (1974), “Superman” (1978), and “French Connection II” (1975), among several others.When Hackman was 13 and lived with his family in Danville, Illinois, he experienced his father, Eugene, a skilled pressman, departing from their lives. He explained that his dad’s financial situation was insufficient to afford a house or rental accommodations, leading to their shared living arrangement with his grandmother.
Although their relationship sparked controversy due to their age gap of 31 years, the pair defied all odds and tied the knot in 1991.
“The Firm” actor referred to Beatrice Grey, his maternal grandma, as an uncompromising woman. After experiencing severe winters in northern Canada, Grey developed the perception that her son-in-law was feeble.

She conveyed this opinion to her daughter, Lyda, who was exceptionally talented in painting, acting, and playing the piano, asserting that she had married someone beneath her social standing.Astonishingly enough, Hackman had no prior indication of his parents’ marriage falling apart, despite the toxic influence that contributed to its dissolution.While playing at a friend’s house down the street, Hackman recalled details of the life-changing incident. It was a Saturday—a day when he and his father would usually spend time together, whenever it was possible. However, on that particular day, as his dad drove by, he waved without stopping.The “Prime Cut” actor interpreted the gesture as a signal that his father wouldn’t return. Although there were no apparent issues at home, he had a strong feeling from that wave that something wasn’t right.

In response, he hurried home to inquire about the situation from his mother. Hackman said the wave symbolized something, as his father was silently telling him, “O.K., it’s all yours. You’re on your own, kiddo.”Despite these early experiences, he went on to join the University of Illinois to study journalism. However, after six months, he dropped out and made his way to New York at 21. “From the time I saw my first movie as a boy, I wanted to be an actor,” he revealed.Hackman accomplished a significant breakthrough in his acting career in his thirties with the movie “Bonnie and Clyde” in 1976, bringing him his first Academy Award nomination. At the time, he was already married to his first wife, Maltese, with whom he had a son Christopher, and daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie. During the early years, they lived in a modest apartment on 26th Street and Second Avenue.

But as his acting career progressed, his personal life hit an all-time low, including his deteriorating marriage to his wife, Maltese, whom he met at a Y.M.C.A. dance in New York in 1955. She was an attractive brunette and worked as a bank secretary in Rockefeller Center.After periodic separations, Hackman and Maltese divorced in 1986, ending their 30-year-long union.
While reflecting on his Hollywood career, Hackman admitted that one could become extremely self-centered. He explained that after many years of yearning for recognition of their talent, it became challenging for actors to turn down roles once more opportunities started coming in.
Despite having a family, Hackman found himself taking jobs that would likely separate them for prolonged periods, usually between three to four months. He admitted that the overwhelming temptations of money and recognition were too much for his inner poor boy to handle.

The “No Way Out” alum refrained from delving too deeply into self-analysis, explaining that he avoided intense scrutiny of his portrayal of characters as he believed that examining them too closely could cause them to fade away.He described the challenge of acting as maintaining a sense of vulnerability within oneself, enabling the absorption of stimuli encountered by both the character and one’s own humanity.Hackman’s success in Hollywood led to a regrettable separation from his family, particularly his son. In an interview in 2011, the award-winning actor was asked what advice he would give his son. Hackman said he lost touch with Christopher regarding fatherly advice early on because he was busy doing location films when his boy needed his dad’s support and guidance.
Nevertheless, in recent years, he reconnected and built a close relationship with his kids and their families, acknowledging his desire to have been more present in their lives in the past.Recalling the challenges he faced on his journey toward Hollywood success, the “Scarecrow” alum once revealed how he had to resort to hard jobs for eight years before achieving success. He spent that time in New York selling ladies’ shoes, polishing leather furniture, and driving a truck.In 1962, Hackman suffered another blow when he lost his mother, who died without seeing her son accomplish significant success in his career. While he seldom discusses her demise, sources report that she tragically died in a fire caused by a lit cigarette while in bed, likely due to her unconscious state.Gene Hackman’s Journey to Finding Love Again & Retirement
Like many public figures, Hackman admitted to facing challenges in preserving his privacy. He highlighted that actors often earned an unfair reputation for being dismissive or impolite to people they encountered on the street, but in reality, they wanted to maintain a sense of continuity in their lives.Besides his stellar professional career, Hackman’s personal life changed for the better when he crossed paths with Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist he met at a gym in Los Angeles, California, in the 80s. At that time, she worked part-time at the fitness center.

The pair officially began dating in 1984, and it wasn’t long before the Hawaii native moved into Hackman’s two-bedroom house in Santa Fe, New Mexico. During that period, the two-time Oscar winner was still finalizing his divorce from his first wife, Maltese.In an interview in March 1989, the “The Royal Tenenbaums” star was said to be living a quiet life with his then 28-year-old partner. Hackman was reported to have picked up exciting hobbies, including painting, sketching, and tooling around in his pick-up trucks.

A father to three grownup children at the time—two in college and one writing computer software—the “Under Fire” actor also expressed a strong desire to see them more frequently.Hackman confessed that meeting Arakawa changed everything for him. He was only 50 when he met and fell in love with his 19-year-old girlfriend.Although their relationship sparked controversy due to their age gap of 31 years, the pair defied all odds and tied the knot in 1991, and their union has remained strong ever since.During a 2008 interview, Hackman clarified that while he hadn’t formally announced or held a press conference about retirement, he had decided to step away from acting. Despite being advised to be flexible in his statement in case any exceptional roles came by, he expressed his genuine lack of desire to continue working.The “Get Shorty” star said he missed the actual act of performing, which he passionately pursued for almost 60 years. However, he found the industry’s business side highly stressful, with the necessary compromises in movie-making becoming burdensome. Eventually, he reached a point where he felt he couldn’t go on anymore.On another occasion, Hackman said his decision to steer clear of Hollywood wasn’t surprising, given that his focus had always been on acting rather than pursuing fame. He remarked that his training had prepared him for portraying characters rather than for navigating the challenges of fame, agents, lawyers, and the press.The “Young Frankenstein” alum said his retirement from acting wasn’t prompted by scandalous occurrences but rather by a sobering reality. Following a stress test in New York that unveiled his heart condition, Hackman received advice from his doctor to avoid giving it further strain.

Thus, his medical assessment, combined with his lack of appetite for fame and the dark side of popularity, ultimately drove the legendary star away from the realms of Hollywood.Gene Hackman’s Life after Retirement & His Changed Appearance
In 2004, Hackman officially bid farewell to the glamorous Hollywood world and left the bustling city of L.A. to settle in the tranquil environment of New Mexico, embracing his decision without second thoughts. Post-retirement, he lead a stress-free life with his wife Arakawa beside him.An insider claimed that the “Hoosiers” actor was in excellent health in his last years, loved cycling, and enjoyed being a handyman and doing yard work. Having experienced a tumultuous career, he cherished the serene life with his life partner, marking a remarkable journey from his challenging early years.Despite not having biological children together, Hackman and Arakawa maintain a strong bond with Leslie, Elizabeth, and Christopher. Hackman built a close relationship with them and his grandchildren.Besides doting on their lovely extended family, the “Night Moves” actor enjoyed gardening, bicycling with his wife, and reveling in the safe haven they’ve built together, away from the public eye.Unlike some individuals, Hackman didn’t find satisfaction in staying at home doing leisurely activities. Instead, he loved watching simple, low-budget movies with his wife, enjoyed comedy marathons, and appreciated Eddie Izzard’s humor. Additionally, he found solace in fishing and his long-standing passion for painting.Hollywood icon Hackman was seen performing yard work with a shovel at his Santa Fe ranch on a Sunday in early March 2023. He exuded a fit and healthy appearance at the age of 93, which could be attributed to his being an avid cyclist, even in his 90s.

Earlier the same day, the “Unforgiven” star was also spotted preparing for his physical labor by grabbing a meal at a local Wendy’s drive-thru, enjoying his chicken sandwich in the parking area before refueling at a nearby gas station. It was a rare sighting of the reclusive actor last seen in the 2004 comedy “Welcome to Mooseport.”After videos and pictures of Hackman’s rare and first public sighting in years surfaced online, they drove the online community into a frenzy. One user wrote, “I didn’t believe it was him, so I googled it. Yes that’s him. I didn’t recognize him. He probably goes everywhere not being noticed.””Omg I would not have [recognized] him..he was so handsome and a brilliant actor in his day…ps I hope he enjoyed that burger,” expressed a fourth user.Despite being hard to recognize since leaving Hollywood, Hackman led a fulfilling and active life as a retired man with his young wife.