Bonnie and Clyde

Gene Hackman enraptured fans in his iconic roles ever since he stormed to fame as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde, kicking off his four-decade long career.

In the 20 years since his shock 2004 retirement, his classic Hollywood repertoire has continued to leave fans in awe as he left quite an impact on the film industry despite starting a new reclusive life out of the spotlight.

Born in California, Los Angeles, on January 30, 1930, Hackman first enlisted in the army after lying about his age at 16, serving for four-and-a-half years before pursuing acting after briefly living in New York.

He quickly established himself as one of the true geniuses of Hollywood and his accolades include two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, four Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Appearing in nearly 80 films over 40 years, Hackman was last seen on screen in the 2004 political satire Welcome to Mooseport and has since lived a reclusive life with his wife Betsy Arakawa and he turned 95 in January.

On February 27, police confirmed the married couple were found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at their Santa Fe home alongside their dog, with local media reporting that no foul play is suspected. No cause of death has been provided.

As Hollywood mourns the loss of the acting great and his beloved wife, lets take a look back at Hackman’s greatest moments on screen.

Gene Hackman established himself as one of the geniuses of Hollywood and his accolades include two Academy Awards and two BAFTAs. He is pictured in The French Connection

Bonnie and Clyde

Hackman was first propelled into the spotlight when he starred as gangster Buck Barrow in 1967’s crime/romance classic Bonnie and Clyde.

The role was offered to him by Warren Beatty, who he had previously worked with on the 1984 film Lilith, in which he secured a minor role.

Starring alongside film legend Warren and Faye Dunaway in the fan favourite release, the role ultimately secured him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

He was nominated alongside his co-star Michael Pollard though the Oscar ultimately went to George Kennedy for his role in Cool Hand Luke. 

Though he missed out on the Academy Award, it set up his future successes as it saw him become one of the most sought-after names in Hollywood. 

The movie’s director, Arthur Penn, would later observe that Hackman was one of the best at exploiting the early pain in his life.

‘He’s one of the ones who are willing to plunge their arm into the fire as far as it can go,’ he later said. 

Hackman enraptured fans in his iconic roles ever since he stormed to fame as Buck Barrow (pictured with Estelle Parsons) in Bonnie and Clyde, kicking off his four-decade career

Starring alongside film legend Warren and Faye Dunaway in the fan favourite release, the role ultimately secured him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor

The French Connection

When it comes to his most memorable and most iconic movie roles, few can forget his jaw-dropping portrayal of hardboiled detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection.

Based on Robin Moore’s 1969 book, the William Friedkin film centres around the the seizure of 246 pounds of heroin smuggled via car on a French ocean liner. 

The 1971 epic sees Hackman take on the role of the maverick narcotics agent as he pursues a French drugs dealer – most notably in the famous New York subway chase.

In what is still regarded as one of the finest ever on-screen chases, Popeye hunts down smuggler Alain Charnier (Fernando Rey) during a nail-biting six-minute sequence.

And astonishingly, no mind-bending special effects were used and Hackman was really forced to pursue his co-star down busy streets and crowded subways.

In another unbelievable touch, the whole scene was filmed on streets that had not been blocked off, meaning he was dodging real traffic and pedestrians.

In true method acting tradition, Hackman prepared for the role by accompanying real drug squad detectives on patrol and even held down a suspect during a bust.

While the film saw him achieve stardom, he almost ruined it for himself when the ever temperamental actor walked out on the second day of filming and only returned after the intercession of his agent.

When it comes to his most memorable and most iconic movie roles, few can forget his jaw-dropping portrayal of hardboiled detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection

Hackman joked that he was ‘at least the seventh choice’ to play Popeye, but the move certainly paid off as it saw him nab his first ever Oscar (pictured with Philip D’ Antoni

Read More Celebrity tributes pour in for Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa after couple were found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ

Hackman also joked that he was ‘at least the seventh choice’ to play Popeye, but the move certainly paid off as it saw him nab his first ever Oscar.

Scooping up the Best Actor gong, Hackman looked back at his first ever acting role as he reflected on how far he’d come, soaring to global fame after his humble beginnings. 

‘I just want to start at the beginning just for a second and say, sitting out there next to Barbara Harris reminds me of my first acting scene ever,’ he said.

‘It was in New York, and the gentlemen sitting in front of us when we were doing that scene was my acting teacher, and I just have to mention his name: George Morrison. I want to thank him. 

‘Also, Mr. Billy Friedkin, who has already received his prize tonight, but I have to thank him because he really brought me through this when I wanted to quit. 

‘And Eddie Egan, who you all know, Mr Phil D’Antoni, [and] Roy Scheider, Roy.’

After his historic success, Hackman reprised his iconic role in its sequel, The French Connection II, before Ed O’Neill put his own spin on Hackman’s character in the 1986 television film Popeye Doyle.

The French Connection has continued to be a classic over the years and made headlines in 2023 when it was censored without warning.

The drama, which was available for streaming via the US streaming platform Criterion Channel, had an edited adding in approximately ten minutes into the film.

The scene involves a conversation between Popeye and Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo (Roy Scheider) where a racial slur is used.

Disney, who own the rights to the film following its takeover of Fox in 2019, were accused of censoring the scene in the US as it remained unedited on Disney+ in the UK and Canada.

After his historic success, Hackman reprised his iconic role in its sequel, The French Connection II (pictured), before Ed O’Neill put his own spin on Hackman’s character 

Unforgiven

Despite never shying away from a punch-up as the top ‘tough guy’ of Hollywood, Hackman initially turned down the part of sadistic sheriff Little Bill Daggett in the 1992 western Unforgiven.

His two daughters had told him that they didn’t like him making so many violent films, with director and star Clint Eastwood battling to change his mind.

And thank goodness he changed his mind, with Hackman excelling in the role and going on to win his second Oscar.

The plot of the revisionist 1880s Western sees gunslinger Will Munny (Clint) return to take on one last job to avenge an injustice, much to the displeasure of Little Bill (Gene), who doesn’t allow vigilantism in his town.

It won four Academy Awards, including for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing and Best Supporting Actor – which was scooped up by Hackman.

Accepting the award, Hackman gushed: ‘Thank you very much. Quick thanks to David Valdes, our producer, David Peoples, our writer. Oh, boy. 

‘All the wonderful actors, Richard Harris, Morgan Freeman, Frances Fisher, and especially to Clint, who kind of made it all possible for me and for everyone else in the film. It was a wonderful experience. 

‘I’d like to dedicate my part of this evening to my uncle Orin Hackman. He was a wonderful guy. Thank you very much.’

Despite never shying away from a punch-up as the top ‘tough guy’ of Hollywood, Hackman initially turned down the part of sadistic sheriff Little Bill in the 1992 western Unforgiven

Hackman initially turned down the part of sheriff Little Bill Daggett in the western Unforgiven but was persuaded to take on the role by director and star Clint Eastwood (both pictured)

The Poseidon Adventure

With an ensemble cast of five Oscar winners, the 1972 thriller The Poseidon Adventure was set up for success right from the off.

However, Hackman was less than convinced about the nail-biting disaster epic, admitting it wasn’t his favourite film because he thought it would simply ‘come and go’.

‘The Poseidon Adventure is not my favourite film. I thought that it would come and go in a few months,’ he memorably said.

‘But on the other hand, it is my favourite film because it made more money than all the rest of my films put together—and a lot more on top of that.’

Hackman couldn’t have been more wrong from his initial ᴀssumption as the adventure movie was anything but fleeting, spawning a string of sequels and remakes.

It has returned to screens many times including in 1979’s Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, 2006’s Poseidon and another series which was made for TV.

Adapted from the novel by Stirling Silliphant and Wendell Mayes, Gene took on the role of Reverend Scott alongside the all-star cast including Shelley Winters, Stella Stevens, Leslie Nielson and Ernest Borgnine.

The disaster film sees the majestic pᴀssenger ship S.S. Poseidon battered by a tidal wave which kills the captain, forcing the remaining pᴀssengers to fight for survival. 

The film also featured a John Williams’ score and the song The Morning After, which won the Oscar in 1973 for Best Original Song. 

With an ensemble cast of five Oscar winners, the 1972 thriller The Poseidon Adventure was set up for success right from the off – though Hackman didn’t initially think it would be a hit 

The disaster film sees pᴀssenger ship, the S.S. Poseidon, battered by a tidal wave which kills the captain, forcing the remaining pᴀssengers to fight for survival. Gene is pictured with Shelley Winters

Retirement 

In 2004, he announced that he was done being an actor. He packed up his things, left Los Angeles for the quiet of New Mexico – and he never looked back.

Some initially thought that the shocking decision had to do with his marriage. 

The Oscar-award winning actor actually quit acting because of the severe stress he was under, which became too much to handle after he started to have issues with his heart.

Last year, he and Betsy, a 63-year-old classical pianist, were seen out and about for the first time in two decades. 

Hackman was  was spotted holding onto his wife’s arm for balance as the pair grabbed a bite at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Before the dinner date, Hackman enjoyed a cup of coffee and some apple pie from a local Speedway store, according to the New York Post.

The couple’s outing marks the first time they were seen together in public for 21 years, with the last time being at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards, where he won the Cecil B. deMille award.

The legendary two-time Oscar winner and his long-time partner seemed to be in a good mood as they left the restaurant together. 

He was married to classical pianist Betsy Arakawa (pictured, right)

Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Gene Hackman ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at 95: Actor and wife are found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at Santa Fe home but no foul play suspected

He told Reuters in 2008: ‘I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer.’

‘I’ve been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don’t want to do it any longer.’

He also explained his pᴀssion for writing novels, saying ‘I like the loneliness of it, actually. It’s similar in some ways to acting, but it’s more private and I feel like I have more control over what I’m trying to say and do.’

‘There’s always a compromise in acting and in film, you work with so many people and everyone has an opinion.… I don’t know that I like it better than acting, it’s just different. I find it relaxing and comforting.’

In 2011, he was asked by GQ if he would ever come out of retirement to do one more film, to which Hackman responded: ‘If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people.’

He has not stayed completely away from the industry, however, as he has narrated two Marine Corps documentaries: The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima (2016) and We, The Marines (2017).