| Gene Hackman Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 84 kg |
| Date of Birth | January 30, 1930 |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Date of Death | February 2025 |
Gene Hackman was a retired American actor, voice actor, novelist, and stage artist. His career spanned more than 6 decades and he gave numerous noteworthy performances in films such as The French Connection, Bonnie & Clyde, I Never Sang for My Father, Mississippi Burning, Superman, Unforgiven, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Conversation, Night Moves, Crimson Tide, and The Poseidon Adventure.
Born Name
Eugene Allen Hackman
Nick Name
Gene
Age
He was born on January 30, 1930.
Died
Gene was found dead on February 26, 2025, at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. He was 95 at that time. A maintenance worker had found his dead body along with the body of his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their 3 dogs. However, the body showed signs of decay.
Gene was found dead in the mudroom and Betsy was lying dead in the bathroom. A pill bottle was found nearby her with some pills scattered on the floor.
Sun Sign
Aquarius
Born Place
San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, California, United States
Residence
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Nationality
Education
Gene Hackman studied at Storm Lake High School. Under the G.I. Bill, he attended the University of Illinois and studied journalism and television production but eventually left and moved back to California.
He joined Pasadena Playhouse in 1956.
Occupation
Actor, Voice Actor, Novelist, Stage Artist
Family
- Father – Eugene Ezra Hackman (Operated the printing press for the Commercial-News (a local paper)) (1903-1973)
- Mother – Anna Lyda Elizabeth (née Gray) (Born in 1905 and died in 1962 as a result of a fire she accidentally started while smoking)
- Siblings – Richard (Brother)
- Others – William Henry Hackman (Paternal Grandfather), Julia Ann Morrison (Paternal Grandmother), Joseph William Gray (Maternal Grandfather), Beatrice Anna Powell (Maternal Grandmother)
Manager
Gene Hackman was signed with –
- Special Artists Agency Inc., Talent Agency, West Hollywood, California, United States
- Hanson & Schwam Public Relations and Marketing, Publicist, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Net Worth
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, he had a net worth of $80 million in 2025.
Build
Slim
Height
6 ft 2 in or 188 cm
Weight
84 kg or 185 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Gene Hackman had dated –
- Faye Maltese (1956-1986) – In 1956, he married his first wife Faye Maltese and the marriage produced 3 children – a son named Christopher Allen (b. 1960) and two daughters named Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne Hackman. Gene and Faye divorced in 1986.
- Cloris Leachman (1973) – He reportedly had an affair with actor and comedian Cloris Leachman in 1973.
- Betsy Arakawa (1991-2025) – He married classical pianist Betsy Arakawa in 1991. They remained together until his death in February 2025. Betsy also died along with Gene in February 2025 and one of their 3 dogs.
Race / Ethnicity
White
Gene Hackman was of English, German, Scottish, and Dutch descent.
Hair Color
Salt and Pepper
Eye Color
Blue
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Raspy voice
Brand Endorsements
Gene Hackman was cast in TV commercials for –
- Kirin Dry (Japan) (1988)
- United Airlines (voiceover) (1990)
- GTE (voiceover) (1990s)
- Oppenheimer Funds (voiceover) (1998)
- Lowe’s Hardware Stores (voiceover) (2002-09)
He was also cast in a radio commercial for CNN in 1999.
Gene Hackman’s Favorite Things
- Personal Favorite Perofmcne – Playing Max Millan in Scarecrow (1973)
Source – IMDb
Gene Hackman Facts
- When he was 10, he decided that he wanted to become an actor.
- He was 13 years old when his parents got divorced and his father subsequently abandoned the family.
- At 16, Gene Hackman left home and subsequently lied about his age to enlist in the United States Marine Corps and went on to serve 4 and a half years as a field radio operator. He was discharged in 1951.
- Along with Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, and Marcel Bozzuffi, he co-starred as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in the neo-noir action thriller film The French Connection in 1971. For this role, Gene Hackman won the Academy Award for “Best Actor”, BAFTA Award for “Best Actor in a Leading Role”, and Golden Globe Award for “Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama”.
- His theatre credits included having been cast in productions of Children From Their Games, The Premise, A Rainy Day in Newark, The Natural Look, Come to the Palace of Sin, Poor Richard, Any Wednesday, and Death and the Maiden.
- A supporter of the Democratic Party, he was “proud” to be included on Richard Nixon‘s Enemies List.
- Gene Hackman was a supporter of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- In 1990, he underwent an angioplasty.
- Asteroid 55397 Hackman which was discovered by Roy Tucker in 2001 has been named after Gene Hackman.
Featured Image by Christopher Michael Little / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED
He died February 26, 2025 at 95 along with his wife Betsy and his dog. No foul play suspected various sources state. A cause of death hasn’t been revealed yet. Possibly carbon monoxide?
His body was discovered on that date. He died closer to 2/17