Hollywood mourns Gene Hackman as Tom Hanks and Barbra Streisand lead tributes
Tributes to Gene Hackman and his beloved wife Betsy Arakawa are pouring in following the shock news of their deaths earlier this week.
The actor died at the age of 95 at his mansion, along with his wife Betsy, 63, and their pet dog, police confirmed on Wednesday after attending their Santa Fe, New Mexico mansion.
Hollywood star Hackman received two Oscars, two BAFTAs, four Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild Award in an acting career which spanned six decades. Tom Hanks, a fellow two-time Oscar winner himself, paid his respects with the poignant remark: “There has never been a ‘Gene Hackman Type.’ There has only been Gene Hackman.”
Jeanne Tripplehorn, who shared the screen with Hackman in The Firm, lauded him as the “greatest” actor, praising his matchless talent and golden heart. She reflected warmly on their time together, writing, “He will always have a place in my heart for being not only the best actor one could ever hope to work with but a gentle man who was a source of quiet strength and kindness when I needed it the most,” adding, “I cherish our time together. Blessed beyond words. We will never see the likes of him again.”
Michelle Pfeiffer, who along with Hackman was up for starring in the Hannibal Lecter film The Silence Of The Lambs before turning the part down, wrote on Instagram: “What a tremendous talent and tremendous loss for cinephiles everywhere. A true legend in cinema. Sending love and light to Gene.”
Matt Dillon, who played Hackman’s son in the thriller Target, hailed his co-star as “a master”. Dillon shared: “I learned so much from him. Before a scene he would tell me – ‘Fill up.'”
Read updates on the tragic death of Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa in the Mirror’s live blog HERE.
Barbra Streisand, who starred alongside Hackman in the romantic comedy All Night Long, penned: “Gene Hackman was an incredible actor. He lived a long life and left an amazing legacy. May he rest in peace.”
Mel Brooks, director of Young Frankenstein, reminisced: “I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene – Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie Young Frankenstein. He said, ‘Do you think Mel would let me play it? I’ve always wanted to do a comedy.’ Needless to say, I was over the moon and he was perfect.”
Gwyneth Paltrow of Iron Man fame also noted Hollywood’s loss, simply posting a picture of herself and Hackman from the 2001 Wes Anderson-comedy The Royal Tenenbaums, without any caption. Hank Azaria, Hackman’s co-star in the comedy The Birdcage, described working with him as “an honour and an education,” while Josh Brolin, star of No Country For Old Men and Avengers, expressed his sorrow over the sudden loss on Instagram, writing: “He was always one of my favourites. Not many who beat to their own drums like he did. Rest in peace.”
Melora Hardin, best known for her role in The Office, took to Instagram to pay tribute to Hackman and recalled her time working alongside him on the thriller Absolute Power. “His mastery of the craft was truly inspiring, and acting alongside him was both exhilarating and deeply rewarding,” she gushed.
She fondly remembered Hackman’s gracious nature, saying: “He carried himself with such grace – always respectful, always generous. I’ll never forget the way he offered his hand to help me up, the small yet thoughtful gestures, like ensuring my comfort in that intense and electrifying scene we shared.”
She continued: “Beyond his immense talent, Gene was a true gentleman – a warm, funny, and kind soul. He always made sure I had a place next to him at lunch, making every moment on set feel special. He adored his wife, and I have no doubt their love endures beyond this life.”
Hackman’s illustrious career took off after his breakout performance in 1967’s Bonnie And Clyde, earning him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. He went on to receive further Oscar nods for his roles in 1970’s I Never Sang For My Father and 1988’s Mississippi Burning.
A new generation of fans was introduced to Hackman through his iconic portrayal of supervillain Lex Luthor in the 1978 Superman film, a role he reprised in the sequels. Gene Hackman secured his first Oscar for Best Actor for his role as the uncompromising, brutal New York detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s The French Connection.
Two decades later, he earned another Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his depiction of the ruthless Sheriff “Little” Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 western, Unforgiven. Throughout his career, Hackman worked alongside numerous Hollywood heavyweights, such as Al Pacino in 1973’s Scarecrow and Beatty and Diane Keaton in Reds (1981).
His final appearance in a major film came in the 2004 satire Welcome To Mooseport, and in the latter stages of his career, he shifted to writing, eventually publishing the book Pursuit in the 2010s.
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