Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, Antonio Banderas and Paul Feig were among those mourning two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who was found dead, alongside his wife and dog, at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday.
“The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity,” Coppola, who directed Hackman in 1974’s The Conversation, wrote on Instagram. “I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
Davis added, “Loved you in everything! The Conversation, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven—tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.”
And Banderas said this was a “very sad day for the cinema’s family,” sharing his condolences for “friends, family and cinema lovers.”
Feig called the news “so awful,” adding, “Gene was such an inspiration to so many of us who love movies. So many brilliant roles. His performance in The Conversation alone changed the way I looked at acting and what actors could bring to a role. Such an amazing career. RIP Mr. Hackman.”
George Takei called Hackman “one of the true giants of the screen,” who “could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it.”
“He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe,” he added. “That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.”
Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead, with their dog, on Wednesday afternoon at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Though the Santa Fe County Sheriff is still investigating, the office said it does “not believe that foul play was a factor.” The couple and their pet were found during a welfare check after their neighbor called concerned. No cause of death has yet been revealed.
Hackman won two Oscars and is known for his roles in films such as The French Connection, Bonnie and Clyde, I Never Sang for My Father, The Conversation, Hoosiers and Unforgiven. He retired from acting in his 70s and was last seen onscreen in the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport.
Read on to see what Hollywood is saying about Hackman.
The greatest… https://t.co/8hUq4JpM1j
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) February 27, 2025
BREAKING NEWS:
Acting legend Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy, 63, found dead in their Santa Fe home, along with their pet dog. Police say early reports do not suggest foul play. What an incredibly sad end to a remarkable life. RIP. pic.twitter.com/oDzh3Gozue— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 27, 2025
What a colossal loss for cinema today.
Hugely saddened by the passing of one of the true greats – Gene Hackman. We send our deepest condolences.
Pictured in The Conversation: pic.twitter.com/AFg6B6atO0
— StudiocanalUK (@StudiocanalUK) February 27, 2025
We are saddened to hear that the much-celebrated actor Gene Hackman has died aged 95.
Hackman's illustrious career spanned over six decades and earned him BAFTA wins for his work in Unforgiven, The French Connection and The Poseidon Adventure. pic.twitter.com/hwgqpff5sZ
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 27, 2025
Gene Hackman played many weightier, masterfully done roles in his long and accomplished career. But as sports-themed films go, Hoosiers was made great by his star turn as the wise, weathered coach of a Cinderella, small town high school basketball team.
Thanks for the memories! pic.twitter.com/nnIrGqAcYo— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) February 27, 2025
Gene Hackman (1930 — 2025) pic.twitter.com/1WzxQVPfev
— MUBI (@mubi) February 27, 2025
Gene Hackman – what a life! So strong and such presence in every role. We salute you. You made a deep mark on the world of cinema. Now sleep well https://t.co/YtPwFxMXLr
— Eddie Izzard (@eddieizzard) February 27, 2025
RIP to the great Gene Hackman, whose long and varied career included a few stops in Toronto over the decades.
🎥 HEIST (TIFF '01)
🎥 ANTZ (TIFF '98)
🎥 TWICE IN A LIFETIME (TIFF '85) pic.twitter.com/4f6u3dwhL4— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) February 27, 2025
Hackman is gone. Hurts when your heroes pass. Thank you Gene. You were one of a kind. pic.twitter.com/vj78VyQYlg
— Michael Chiklis (@MichaelChiklis) February 27, 2025
So awful. Gene was such an inspiration to so many of us who love movies. So many brilliant roles. His performance in The Conversation alone changed the way I looked at acting and what actors could bring to a role. Such an amazing career. RIP Mr. Hackman. https://t.co/vBfgOmGgQT
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) February 27, 2025
#GeneHackman was legitimately great, a brilliant actor. And not just in 1 or 2 or 3 films but in more than a dozen classic films incl. The French Connection, Unforgiven, Hoosiers, Superman, Crimson Tide, Mississippi Burning, The Conversation, Poseidon Adventure.
RIP.
ICON. pic.twitter.com/SRauShlZTI— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) February 27, 2025
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