Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood and More Pay Tribute to Gene Hackman: ‘A Great Actor’
Numerous actors and filmmakers have paid tribute to award-winning actor Gene Hackman following his death at 95. The actor, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, and their dog were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Feb. 26, adding an additional sense of tragedy to the loss. Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, and Josh Brolin were among the notable people who honored Hackman and his prolific career.
Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Hackman in 1974’s noir thriller The Conversation, shared on Instagram, “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. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
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Clint Eastwood, who starred with and directed Hackman in Unforgiven, said in a statement to Variety, “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”
Hank Azaria, who appeared alongside Hackman in The Birdcage, wrote, “It was an honor and an education working with Gene Hackman. Mike Nichols said of his genius character acting: “He always brought just enough of a different part of the real gene to each role he played.” Sending all my love to his family & friends.”
The Birdcage‘s Nathan Lane added in a statement, “Gene Hackman was my favorite actor, as I think I told him every day we worked together on ‘The Birdcage.’ Getting to watch him up close, it was easy to see why he was one of our greatest. You could never catch him acting. Simple and true, thoughtful and soulful, with just a hint of danger. He was as brilliant in comedy as he was in drama and thankfully his film legacy will live on forever. It was a tremendous privilege to get to share the screen with him and remains one of my fondest memories. Rest in peace, Mr. Hackman.”
Director Edgar Wright wrote simply, “The greatest.”
James Woods remembered his time working with the actor, “One of my first movies was a nice supporting role in a movie called NIGHT MOVES. I was excited, of course, because I was going to get to work with every young actor’s hero, Gene Hackman. And, since they were in town visiting, I was going to be able to invite my mom and stepfather to the set and hopefully they could meet Gene. It went far beyond a polite hello, as Gene spent an hour chatting with them, genuinely interested in their lives. That day was a model for me going forward. I have always prided myself on the way I treat fans, visitors, and friends. And I thank Gene for it. As an actor he was without equal, and as a man, he was one of a kind.”
Paul Feig added on X, “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.”
Actress Valerie Perrine, who played the girlfriend of Hackman’s Lex Luthor in Superman, wrote on social media, “He was a genius & 1 of the greatest to grace the silver screen. I had the honor of working with Him on Superman. His performances are legendary. His talent will be missed.”
Fellow Oscar winner Viola Davis wrote, “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.”
John Cusask, who co-starred with Hackman in 2003’s Runaway Jury, wrote on social media, “RIP Gene Hackman – an all time great. One of the most influential screen actors ever. There was nothing he couldn’t do. His work was searingly truthful and often brutally honest – he never let you off the hook. Not afraid of ambiguity – a lost quality these days. Lucky and grateful to share screen with him.”
Josh Brolin wrote in a tribute, “Crushed. He was always one of my favorites. Not many who beat to their own drums like he did.”
“We lost one of the true giants of the screen,” George Takei wrote on X. “Gene Hackman 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. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.”
Dan Aykroyd, who starred with Hackman in the critically reviled comedy Loose Cannons, wrote on social media, “Pouring two Head shots. One in sorrow. One in celebration. For the loss and for the life and career of the great Gene Hackman. Made a D grade picture with Gene and Dom DeLuise. We laughed together through the whole fiasco. Gene told me he only needed four instructions from directors. Louder. Softer. Faster. Slower.
“Gene Hackman was truly one of the greatest screen actors of all time. He almost never hit a false note. Always mesmerizing,” director James Gunn wrote, ranking The Conversation, Unforgiven and Night Moves as his favorite Hackman films.
Mel Brooks, who worked with Hackman on his 1974 comedy-horror film Young Frankenstein, remembered his time with the actor, writing, “I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene—Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.” Brooks added, “He said, ‘Do you think Mel would let me play it? I’ve always wanted to do a comedy.’ Needless to say, I was over the moon and he was perfect.”
Joe Walsh of the Eagles also had fond memories of Hackman. “Summer of 1976 or so in Santa Barbara. I had joined a new band and we were working on what would become Hotel California. My buddy Gene had just finished what would become The Domino Principle. We drank hard. We laughed hard. We fought over who had the bigger nose (he did). And oh man… We played poker for days,” he recalled in an Instagram post. “Whenever I hear the term ‘Poker Face,’ I will always see this face… and giggle. Godspeed, my friend.”
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