Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

Gene Hackman’s career spanned over six decades and earned him two Oscars. See his best photos here.

Gene Hackman’s acting chops were no joke. The late retired film legend (born Eugene Allen Hackman on January 30, 1930) enjoyed a career that spanned over six decades until his retirement in 2004.

After cutting his teeth in TV parts and off-Broadway shows, Gene earned an Oscar nomination for 1967’s Bonnie & Clyde, basically his first major screen role. He would receive widespread acclaim for 1971’s The French Connection. He won his first Oscar for the part, which premiered a sequel in 1975. He won again 20 years later for the Clint Eastwood movie Unforgiven (1992). His other accolades include four Golden Globes, one Screen Actors Guild Award, two BAFTAs, and one Silver Bear.

Unfortunately, Gene and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were both found dead in their New Mexico home in February 2025. Authorities said they did not suspect foul play and their cause of death was under investigation.

We’re remembering Gene’s life in photos in our gallery below.

1 of 13

Gene Hackman in 1967’s ‘Bonnie and Clyde’

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

Warner Bros/Seven Arts/Tatira-Hi

Gene Hackman poses in a scene from 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde. He played fellow outlaw Buck Barrow in the film, about a bored waitress who falls in love with an ex-con and embarks on a violent crime spree through the country.

September 4, 2022, 5:30PM 2 of 13

Gene Hackman in 1968

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

AP/Shutterstock

Here, Gene appears back in 1968 in a scene from Bonnie And Clyde. The fugitive crime caper starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.=

September 4, 2022, 5:30PM 3 of 13

Gene Hackman in 1969

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Gene Hackman looks so handsome in this 1969 photo. Before making it big, he studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he became friends with Dustin Hoffman.

September 4, 2022, 5:30PM 4 of 13

Gene Hackman in 1971’s ‘The French Connection’

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

20th Century Fox/D'Antoni Prodcu

Gene Hackman made a name for himself in 1971’s The French Connection. The crime caper was about a pair of NYPD detectives who stumble onto a drug smuggling ring based in Marseilles.

September 4, 2022, 5:30PM 5 of 13

Gene Hackman in 1974’s ‘The Conversation’

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

Courtesy Everett Collection

Listen up. One of Gene Hackman’s most enigmatic roles was in the 1974 Francis Ford Coppola thriller The Conversation. He played a surveillance expert who has a crisis of conscience when his marks appear to have been murdered.

September 4, 2022, 5:29PM

6 of 13

Gene Hackman at the 2001 Premiere of ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

Bei/Shutterstock

Gene Hackman celebrates the premiere of The Royal Tenenbaums on Dec. 6, 2001. He was dressed in a dark suit and had his signature mustache.

September 4, 2022, 5:30PM 7 of 13

Gene Hackman at the 2003 Golden Globes

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

Reed Saxon/AP/Shutterstock

Gene Hackman holds his Cecil B. DeMille award at the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards in 2003. His yellow tie complemented the trophy fantastically.

September 4, 2022, 5:30PM 8 of 13

Gene Hackman for ‘Antz’

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Co

Bugging out! Gene Hackman voiced General Mandibula in the computer-animated Woody Allen flick Antz. He poses for a promo shot for the film here.

September 4, 2022, 5:29PM 9 of 13

Gene Hackman in 2001’s ‘Heist’

Gene Hackman Through the Years: Photos of the Late Actor

Moviestore/Shutterstock

Gene Hackman starred in 2001’s Heist with Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Rebecca Pidgeon, Ricky Jay, and Sam Rockwel. The film was about the leader of a burglary ring who finds himself at odds with his crime partner.

September 4, 2022, 5:30PM 10 of 13