Gene Hackman and wife found dead – DiePresse.com
The 95-year-old Hollywood star Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead, US media report.
Actor Genes Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and her dog have been found in dead in their house in Santa Fe in the US state of New Mexico, several media report, including the “Daily Mail« . Local media reported that no external negligence is suspected. The police did not provide the police.
Hackman was 95 years old, and since 1991 he was married to the classic pianist Arakawa (63). He was awarded Oscars for his roles in « French Connection » and « Merciless », and he also had an impressive appearance in the black comedy « The Royal Tenenbaums ». Hackman made over 80 films made in his long career. He had retired from the public for a long time.
As a 16-year-old to the navy
As the son of a printer and a waitress, Hackman grew up in a small town in the US state of Illinois. The father left the family when the boy was a teenager. At the age of 16 he came to the US Navy, a few years later he followed his passion for film and took acting lessons at the « Pasadena Playhouse » in California, where a young Dustin Hoffman also studied. At that time, both were classified in the class as a student with the slightest chances of success.
Together they moved to New York at the end of the 1950s, shared an apartment with Robert Duvall there, hit themselves with handlong jobs and learned their acting crafts.
First Oscar nomination
Hackman played his first major role in 1964 in the « Lilith » strip with Warren Beatty, who hired him three years later for « Bonnie and Clyde ». As Clydes Gangster brother, Hackman received his first Oscar nomination as the best supporting actor.
After his breakthrough as an Oscar-winning main actor with « French Connection » (1971), the career quickly went uphill. In « Scarecrow » he plays a litterer, in « The Conversation » (« The Dialog ») a paranoid listening specialist. He made it to Hollywood's A list with cash crowds such as the John Grisham film adaptation « The company » and « Crimson Tide ».
« /> Gene Hackman in « Merciless ». He was awarded an Oscar for his role. Mary Evans Picture Library via www.imago-images.de
In the travesty classic « The Birdcage », Hackman slipped into women's clothes. In 1989 he won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival as a FBI agent in the racism drama « The Root of Hass ». With Dustin Hoffman he was seen in the strip « Runaway jury ».
Hackman also wrote books
In 1993 he celebrated a further double success at the Globes and Oscars as the best supporting actor in the western « merciless ». Under the direction of Clint Eastwood, he played a sadistic sheriff. Hackman won his third Golden Globe as the best comedy actor in « The Royal Tenenbaums » (2001).
Most recently, in 2004 he shone in the political satire « Welcome to Mooseport » as an arrogant ex-president who moved from Washington to the province. At that time he trusted US Talkmaster Larry King that he wanted to get out of the film business. Since then he has not stepped in front of the camera. However, he continued as an author. He wrote books, such as the civil war novel « Escape from Andersonville » (2008) and the police thriller « Pursuit » (2013). (Red./Ag.)
