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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayGene Hackman Death: 911 Call & Autopsy Findings Released
Gene Hackman received a moment of recognition at the 2025 Oscars.
The actor—who earned two Academy Awards for his roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven—was honored during the March 2 ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Before the In Memoriam segment, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences paid tribute to Hackman with a special message from Morgan Freeman, who worked with Hackman on 1992's Unforgiven and 2000's Under Suspicion.
"Like everyone who ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone's work," Freeman said. "He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world."
The 87-year-old also shared how Hackman wanted to be remembered.
"Gene always said, 'I don't think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,'" he explained. "So, I think I speak for us all when I say, Gene, you will be remembered for that and for so much more. Rest in peace, my friend."
(See all the celebrities who attended the 2025 Oscars ceremony here.)
Just four days prior, the 95-year-old and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their New Mexico home, along with one of their dogs.
Authorities are continuing to investigate their cause of death and manner of death, but have so far ruled out a few possible explanations as to what happened.
Carbon monoxide poisoning was deemed unlikely after initial testing came back negative, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza shared at a Feb. 28 press conference. Furthermore, police don't believe either Hackman or Arakawa died in a fall because neither appeared to have suffered external trauma or physical injuries.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
"There were no apparent signs of foul play," Mendoza said Feb. 28. "There is no surveillance, as we know of right now, in the interior of the residence or the exterior of the residence, that is going to help us determine a timeline or events that happened."
He added, "We'll be analyzing cell phone data, phone calls, text messages, events, photos in the cell phone, to try to piece a timeline together."
Hackman—who was in "good health" before his passing, according to his daughter Leslie Anne Hackman—had previously been recognized at the Oscars with nominations in 1968 for Bonnie and Clyde, 1971 for I Never Sang for My Father and 1989 for Mississippi Burning, in addition to his two wins in 1972 and 1993.
The first time he took home a trophy, he thanked his then-wife Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986 before tying the knot with Arakawa in 1991.
“And last, a young lady who I met in New York many years ago, Miss Felippa Maltese, and she brought me uptown,” he said onstage. “Thank you.”
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
"There were no apparent signs of foul play," Mendoza said Feb. 28. "There is no surveillance, as we know of right now, in the interior of the residence or the exterior of the residence, that is going to help us determine a timeline or events that happened."
He added, "We'll be analyzing cell phone data, phone calls, text messages, events, photos in the cell phone, to try to piece a timeline together."
Avalon/Getty Images
Hackman—who was in "good health" before his passing, according to his daughter Leslie Anne Hackman—had previously been recognized at the Oscars with nominations in 1968 for Bonnie and Clyde, 1971 for I Never Sang for My Father and 1989 for Mississippi Burning—in addition to his two wins in 1972 and 1993.
The first time he took home a trophy, he thanked his then-wife Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986 before tying the knot with Arakawa in 1991.
“And last, a young lady who I met in New York many years ago, Miss Felippa Maltese, and she brought me uptown,” he said onstage. “Thank you.”
To see how more celebrities have honored Hackman and Arakawa, read on.
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Prince William & Kate Middleton
"So sad to hear the news of the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy," the couple wrote on their joint X account. "Hackman was a true genius of film who brought each and every character to life with power, authenticity and star quality."
LUCY NICHOLSON / AFP
Gwyneth Paltrow
The Royal Tennanbaums actress shared a photo of herself, Luke Wilson and Gene on the set of the Wes Anderson film alongside a broken heart emoji in a Feb. 27 Instagram post.
Luca Carlino/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Tom Hanks
The Cast Away star also kept his tribute short and sweet, writing in a Feb. 27 Instagram post alongside an old photo of the star, “There has never been a ‘Gene Hackman Type.’ There has only been Gene Hackman.”
Tony Korody/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
Elizabeth Hackman, Leslie Hackman & Annie Hackman
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy," the actor's daughters—whom he shares with ex Faye Maltese—and grandaughter wrote in a statement shared with E! News. "He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss."
ABC
Francis Ford Coppola
The Megalopolis director, who directed Gene in The Conversation, shared a touching tribute shortly after news of Gene’s death broke.
“The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration,” the director wrote on Instagram Feb. 27, alongside a photo of the pair. “Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity, I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Viola Davis
The How To Get Away With Murder actress wrote a touching post directed at the actor himself.
“Loved you in everything!” Viola wrote in a Feb. 27 Instagram post. “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.”
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix
Nathan Lane
“Getting to watch him up close it was easy to see why he was one of our greatest,” The Birdcage star told USA Today in a statement. "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.”
He added, “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.”
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Hank Azaria
Comedian Hank Azaria, who also starred in The Birdcage alongside Gene, wrote a touching tribute.
“It was an honor and an education working with Gene Hackman,” he wrote on X, adding a few kind words from the film’s director, “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.”
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Pedro Pascal
The Last of Us star proved Gene’s continued influence on Hollywood, sharing an old photo of the star on his Instagram Story, writing, “My actual favorite.”
Jon Kopaloff/WireImage
Michael Rosenbaum
The Smallville actor, who shared the part of Lex Luthor with the Superman star, wrote to Instagram, “To my favorite Lex Luthor and one of the all time greatest actors ever! RIP.”
Lawrence JC Baron
Antonio Banderas
The Mask of Zorro star wrote in a post on X, “A very sad day for the cinema’s family. Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have passed away. My deepest condolences to friends, family and cinema lovers.”
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for WIRED
John Simm
“Sad news today,” the Collateral star wrote in a tribute on Instagram. “You’d be hard pressed to name a better screen actor than this man. Because there isn’t one. Perfection in every single role he played, a huge inspiration for me and for generations of actors. And he could do it all. He made the craft look effortless. A true artist.”
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
George Takei
The Star Trek alum commemorated his old peer with a heartfelt note to X.
“Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it,” George wrote. “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 world will live on forever.”
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Edgar Wright
Edgar Wright—who directed Baby Driver and Last Night in Soho—shared a tribute to the late actor on X, writing, “The greatest…”
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Cary Elwes
“We have lost a true legend,” the Princess Bride star wrote in a Feb. 27 Instagram post. “The magnificent Gene Hackman has passed away. A man whose breadth of talent was immeasurable. Growing up on his movies was an absolute thrill for me."
He continued to emphasize the impact of Gene's craft.
"To observe his remarkable facility and humanity in every role was something to behold," he added. "Whatever film he was in, he made it better. A force of nature like no other and as such there will never be another like him. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and fans all over the world. Rest in absolute power, Gene.”
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