Gene Hackman, Oscar-winning star of 'The French Connection,' dies at 95

[Matt Dillon]

Gene Hackman, the Oscar-winning actor whose gruff but soulful turns in classics like “The French Connection,” “The Conversation” and “Unforgiven” made him one of the most respected performers in Hollywood, died on Thursday.

He was 95.

He was found dead alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, a classical pianist and his second wife, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. "We do not believe foul play was a factor in their deaths however, exact cause of death has not been determined at this time," the office told Sky News.

Gene Hackman, Oscar-winning star of 'The French Connection,' dies at 95​

[Matt Dillon]

I imagine it's because I'm partial to westerns, but "Unforgiven" is my favorite Gene Hackman movie.

[KCKUKFan]

Hoosiers, The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Conversation, The Firm, Crimson Tide, Unforgiven. Countless great performances.

RIP.

[TrueblueCATfan]

RIP Mr. Hackman...my favorites movies of his are The Replacements and Hoosiers

[CATHYnKY]

Watching the news this morning, they could have been deceased for up to 2 weeks. No forced entry and no signs of foul play.

[Spiritof96]

Hoosiers, The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Conversation, The Firm, Crimson Tide, Unforgiven. Countless great performances.

RIP.

I’ve never been able to make it past harassing the blacks in the club at the beginning of the French connection. When does it get good or interesting.

[surveyor]

Hackman was a helluvan actor. Eastwood coaxed Hackman out of retirement - at least retirement from violent films. Hackman didn't want to do such films anymore. Eastwood convinced Hackman "Unforgiven" was a different type of film.

Unforgiven remains a favorite western because it was an unvarnished look at human interaction and the realities of harsh living.

CNN in their usual "wisdom" featured two movie clips on their news page exampling Hackman's work - "The French Connection" (good choice) and ................ "Superman" (wtf)

The Royal Tenenbaums ...... Unforgiven........Mississippi Burning...............Bonnie and Clyde............The Bird Cage................ anything above Lex Luther. Hell, the blind hermit guy in "Young Frankenstein".

[surveyor]

CNN for the headline win again -

Friends of Gene Hackman and wife say couple were ‘alive and well’ in recent meeting

Do tell. I would hope they were alive when visiting with friends.......................

[surveyor]

Gene Hackman Died of Heart Disease and Alzheimer’s a Week After Betsy Arakawa; Wife’s Cause of Death Determined to Be Hantavirus

Damn. That's a shame.

[CATHYnKY]

Can believe they did have full time help and nobody checked on them regularly

[surveyor]

Can believe they did have full time help and nobody checked on them regularly

I didn't realize his Alzheimer's was as advanced as it was.

For sure his wife was his caregiver and when she fell ill their system just collapsed, evidently. Sounds like she collapsed before she was able to release the one dog in the crate, and it starved to death.

Terrible all around.

[George]

Hantavirus. That’s basically black plague, man. Awful.

[capcat]

I didn't realize his Alzheimer's was as advanced as it was.

For sure his wife was his caregiver and when she fell ill their system just collapsed, evidently. Sounds like she collapsed before she was able to release the one dog in the crate, and it starved to death.

Terrible all around.

Agree, with all those points.

[Spiritof96]

Hantavirus. That’s basically black plague, man. Awful.

Mind the dust in your fixed camping shelters...