Clint Eastwood Mourns 'Dear Friend' Gene Hackman After Actor Is Found Dead at 95: 'Never a False Note'

Mar. 15, 2025

Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood on March 29, 1993.Photo:Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the two-time Oscar winner, 95, was found dead along with his wifeBetsy Arakawa, 64, and one of their pet dogs in their New Mexico home, PEOPLE confirmed with authorities.

In a statement Feb. 27,Clint Eastwood, who directed and starred opposite Hackman in the 1992 WesternUnforgiven, said, “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note.”

Eastwood, 94, added, “He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”

Morgan Freemanalso starred inUnforgivenandworked again with Hackman on the 2000 filmUnder Suspicion. Freeman, 87,wroteon Instagram, “One of the personal highlights of my career was bringing the French Film Gardé a Vue (Under Suspicion) to life with the incredibly gifted Gene Hackman. And of course… Unforgiven. Rest in peace, my friend.”

Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood.Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Ron Galella Collection/Getty

AnotherUnforgivencast mate, Frances Fisher shared a memory from her time making the movie, which won four Oscars, including Best Picture.

“The evening Gene and Betsy arrived in Calgary, Clint and I had dinner with them,“wroteFisher, 72, on Instagram. “Gene was scheduled for a small scene the next day; his first day of work. He mentioned the weather and said ‘I hope if we have to go indoors we won’t be doing the jail scene.’ If you remember it’s a huge scene. Clint assured him that it wasn’t the cover scene.”

“Well guess what? Weather made the schedule change and sure enough the jail scene was up first,” continued the actress. “And don’t you know, Gene was prepared like nobody’s business. Gene nailed it as if he’d been working for weeks! He was amazing!”

Continued Fisher, “Watching his work, and working with him was a master class. And when he was waiting for shots to be set up, he’d go to his notebook and sketch. He gave me a drawing of me as Strawberry Alice that I have framed above my desk. We all know Gene’s remarkable body of work. And it’s his humble quietude I hold in my heart.”

Gene Hackman.Vera Anderson/WireImage

Vera Anderson/WireImage

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Hackman was known for roles inThe French Connection, Superman,Hoosiers,The Firmand many more. The father of three retired from Hollywood in 2004, and he toldGQin a 2011 interviewthat he wanted to be remembered as a “decent actor” and “someone who tried to portray what was given to them in an honest fashion.”

source: people.com