Gene Hackman found dead with his wife: the French Connection star was 95 years old

The double Oscar -winning actor was found his life at his home, just like pianist Betsy Arakawa, and their dog.

The Santa Fe New Mexican announced the sad news this morning: the actor Gene Hackmanhis wife, the pianist Betsy Arakawa And their dog were found lifeless in their home in New Mexico. He had just celebrated his 95th birthday, and she was 63 years old.

The cause of death has not yet been announced, but it would not be of criminal origin, specifies the New York Post.

Gene Hackman was one of the flagship actors of the New Hollywood, experiencing successes throughout his career, to which he put an end in 2004. In five decades, he won two Oscars: first for French Connectionby William Friedkin, in 1971, then for Ruthlessfrom Clint Eastwood, Western of 1992 in which he plays a marking supporting role. He was appointed three other times: among the supporting roles for Bonnie & Clyde (1967) and I never blood for my father (1970), and first for Mississippi Burning (1988).

First spotted in Broadway, in the early 1960s, he began in the movies with Warren Beatty in Lilith (1964), and was shortly after revealed to his side with the general public thanks to Bonnie & Clyded’Arthur Penn, year in which he also participated in the cult series of SF, The invaders. Enjoying great success thanks to French ConnectionGene Hackman will turn in her suite, in 1975, as well as in The adventure of Poseidonfrom Roald Neame, Secret conversationby Francis Ford Coppola, and Frankenstein Juniorfrom Mel Brooks, in the 1970s. Films with very different styles. Playing Lex Luthor in the Superman From Richard to give, in 1978, he will find this character two years later for his suite, and will lend him his voice once again for the 4th opus.

The 1980s were marked by the war film Under Firealongside Nick Nolte, Ed Harris or even Jean-Louis Trintignant, by the spy film Targetwhich marks his reunion with Arthur Penn in 1985, and by Mississippi Burningbut also by a failure: he would have dreamed of adapting The silence of the lambs. In addition to making the film, he wanted to play Hannibal Lecter, but struggling to bring the funds to buy the rights of the book by Thomas Harris, he would have discouraged, not wishing to chain the roles of bad guys. In 1991, it was Anthony Hopkins who played the famous killer in Jonathan Demme’s thriller against Jodie Foster. Gene never went to the staging, however, he wrote several novels from 1999 to 2013.

French Connection: Gene Hackman only saw it once and prefers Bullitt’s chase!

In the 1990s, Gene Hackman continued her eclectic career choices, therefore signing for Ruthlessfrom Eastwood, which he will also find for Full powers. He also participates in The firmfrom Sydney Pollack, Wyatt Earpfrom Lawrence Kasdan, Dead or livelyfrom Sam Raimi, Uss alabama And State enemyof Tony Scott or Antthe animated film of the DreamWorks studios for which he doubles General Mandibules.

Gene Hackman announced his retirement in 2004, after turning for new talented directors: he is in particular at the heart of The Tenenbaum familyfrom Wes Anderson, released in 2001 in the cinema, and he also appeared that year in Mexicanfrom Gore Verbinski, the future director of the spectacular trilogy Caribbean pirates.

The Tenenbaum family: With this film, Wes Anderson builds something big (critic)