Gene Hackman 1930-2025

littlevillage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123226918#Comment_123226918

Soo he didn't have a great range but he was versatile... make up your mind why don't ya??

Bogey Lowenstein

I forgot that he was in Get Shorty. I must rewatch it.

MfMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123226983#Comment_123226983

He was versatile in that he appeared in many different types of roles, but I don't think he 'disappeared' into them in the way of great character actors. Personally, I tend to think that the best stage actors by default make the best screen actors too, and the best stage actors for me come from Europe and particularly through British theatre. They are more subtle and nuanced generally than American actors I feel. E.g. I re-watched The Mission the other night and Jeremy Irons was superb in it, totally eclipsing Robert De Niro. (Don't know why he didn't even get a nomination for that). Anyway, I don't want to digress from the main intention of this thread.

amandstu

Talking about highly thought of actors I just watched Parkinson's interview with Richard Burton .(thought less if him for it -he seemed totally wrecked though and chain smoked his way through it)

Just what Hackman would have hated I guess.

Romario11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123226918#Comment_123226918

Mate how you can not rate Gene Hackman is beyond comprehension. By his peers he is absolutely revered as an actor as one of the best to ever do it. One of the most meticulously and detailed guys ever in the industry. Hated by directors because he pushed them to their limits to get the best results. Like an actor working with Olive Stone in his pomp. Its difficult but the result are usually exceptional.

The difference in his performances from The french connection to the Conversation is totally night and day. Brash vs shy and reserved. He played a lot of serious characters and maybe this is a consistent theme that could make one think he’s not that versatile. But he played many different completely different personalities and thats the versatility.
There have been few actors who have reached Hackmans level over such a broad body of work

one armed dwarf

I only recently saw The Conversation for the first time but it sort of blew my perception away of Gene Hackman as an actor, didn't know he could do a performance with such psychological depth, probably my second favorite Coppola film after Godfather now

odyssey06

BBC2 will be repeating The French Connection & The Conversation as a tribute on Sunday 16th March.

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123237891#Comment_123237891

great movies, but they've both been on recently enough. Shame it's not Night Moves which I haven't seen (I suppose I could rent it…)

Ten of Swords

The medical examiner today said that Betsy Arakawa died on February 11th from Hantavirus (a pulmonary condition spread by mouse droppings) and that Gene Hackman died approximately 6 days later from natural causes, and that because of his advanced alzheimers he may not have been aware his wife was dead.

That's truly horrific, wasting away by himself alone in his house. Cant believe nobody checked on them with his condition and advanced age.

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123242759#Comment_123242759

It's honestly terribly sad. Was talking to a friend and saying how a suicide would have been a less messed up scenario. This just sounds like it could have been terrible. There's been less than a thousand cases of the virus that killed Arakawa in the US since 1993. It would be a very sad end for any couple.

RickBlaine

That is incredibly grim. A lot of people suspected carbon monoxide poisoning when the story initially broke, and after reading about the medical examiner's results, I wish that had been the case.

Exiled Rebel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123242759#Comment_123242759

So what killed the dog? Lack of water?

This is incredibly sad story.

RickBlaine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123242833#Comment_123242833

He was found in a kennel so presumably died due to lack of water and food. Either his wife put him in the kennel before she died, or he did, and he never let the dog out due to his advanced alzheimers.

Aurelian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123239992#Comment_123239992

Is it available anywhere to rent online? It's a great movie and would love to see it again.

Exiled Rebel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123226995#Comment_123226995

It's on Amazon Prime if that's any use to you. I watched it the other night. Very funny.

Bogey Lowenstein

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123242833#Comment_123242833

They said the dog had an operation so it was crated. The family must have been estranged because his daughter had said after they discovered them that he was mobile and in good health, must not have seen him in ages.

Field east

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123242759#Comment_123242759

The couple must have lived a VERY PRIVATE. Life. The location and its surrounds looks idellic to those that like that kind of environment. Given that Gene had a serious health condition - I assume for quiet some time- and that his wife was not well with at least with cold like symptoms, I find it hard to understand that nobody called in , rang up or whatever for at least a social call not to say ‘how are they’, ? As a reminder to us all wealthy , fame, and suchlike are not EVERYTHING. Being part of a community, networking, looking out for eachother I, etc, is so important - no matter how well off we might be. A very sad end for both. May they rest in peace.

Bogey Lowenstein

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123243375#Comment_123243375

Nobody cared enough to ring and check on them or visit but you can be damn sure all sorts of relatives will be coming out of the woodwork now looking for a piece of the pie. $80m net worth.

Mr. teddywinkles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123226960#Comment_123226960

Bollywood more his thing. Lots of unnecessary dancing and singing

JP Liz V1

You would think friends and family or home care help would have called to them, it is really sad with estranged families who as above mentioned will want a cut of his estate now, the vultures out

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123243808#Comment_123243808

You'd also think that both of them would have been capable of calling for help in some way, but apparently not. Very sad.

BrianD3

A grim tale indeed but at least it wasn't too long before the bodies were found. As we know from several cases in Ireland, people can die and not be discovered for months or years. Families don't have to be estranged for this to happen - people are just consumed with what's going on in their own lives. Also IME when a person develops dementia (which Hackman had), family and friends disappear and/or the burden of care falls on one person. Seems as though one of the most famous actors of all time and his wife had something in common with normal people.

There have been times in recent years when if I had died, my relative that i was caring for fulltime would have followed me shortly afterwards and we would have been undiscovered for weeks.

Hackman looked very frail in the public photos of him taken in 2024. He was still walking but was barely recognisable. When he was in his 70s, he was still a forceful actor and robust looking individual e.g. Behind Enemy Lines.

p to the e

A regular film being watched in our house was a VHS recorded off the telly of "Uncommon Valour". One of his lesser known films I'd say and probably doesn't stand up on a rewatch but I loved it as a kid. Also had a young Patrick Swayze

Bogey Lowenstein

Was there any tribute to him at the Oscars or did anyone mention him?

The Black Oil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123282213#Comment_123282213

Morgan Freeman spoke about their friendship.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123282221#Comment_123282221

Yeah, was a really nice tribute, along with the film clips they played.

Bogey Lowenstein

Gene and Dustin Hoffman were at the same stage school in their youth where they became friends, they were both voted least likely to succeed! Gene got the lowest mark of the group. 😳