Upon the passing of Gene Hackman at the ripe age of 95, his fans have been reminiscing about his storied acting career, which concluded two decades ago. Although Hackman preferred to stay away from the public eye for most of his later years, he did offer some profound insights into his decision to bid farewell to acting in 2004 during a 2009 interview with Empire magazine.
"The final straw, as it were, was a stress test I underwent in New York," Hackman revealed, who spent his twilight years in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he was discovered deceased alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their loyal dog on Wednesday, February 26th. "My doctor advised me that my heart was not in the condition to endure any further strain."
During a 1999 interview with Charlie Rose, Hackman hinted at the physical demands of living in New York City when asked if he would ever return to the stage. "I'd need to be comfortable, though," he said about a potential comeback. "I've led a rather cushioned life for too long to rough it out. My time in New York was akin to a cockroach's existence."
Hackman further elaborated on this subject in a 2011 interview with GQ, stating that he would only consider making more movies if he could do so from the comfort of his own home. "Perhaps in my own house, without anyone disturbing anything, just with one or two people around," he mused.
Hackman's swan song was in the 2004 film Welcome to Mooseport, after which he quietly exited the acting scene. "I haven't held a press conference to announce my retirement, but yes, I won't be acting anymore," he told Reuters in 2008. "I've been advised against saying this over the past few years, just in case a truly wonderful role came along, but I genuinely have no desire to continue acting."
The two-time Oscar winner was renowned for his roles in films like The French Connection, Superman, Hoosiers, The Royal Tenenbaums, and many more. He began his career on stage in the 1960s before venturing into the world of film and television. In 2003, he was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes, proudly proclaiming, "I never wanted to be anything but an actor."
Hackman also penned two solo novels and co-authored three more with his neighbor and friend, Daniel F. Lenihan. He spent much of his time at home indulging in his passion for painting. "I paint and draw, and my wife is a classical pianist, so we have ample cultural opportunities here," Hackman shared with Rose in 1999 when asked about his life in Santa Fe.
On Wednesday, February 26th, Hackman and his wife, Arakawa, were found deceased in their Santa Fe home, accompanied by their beloved dog, as confirmed by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza to the Santa Fe New Mexican on Thursday, February 27th.
Denise Womack-Avila, the public information officer for the county sheriff's office, stated in a message to NBC News that there is "an active and ongoing investigation" into the couple's deaths. She added that "foul play is not suspected at this time, however, the exact cause of death has yet to be determined."
