The entertainment world has been left in shock following the tragic passing of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
At 95, Hackman and his wife were found deceased at their New Mexico home and the cause of death is under investigation, but police have said there are no signs of foul play.
The two-time Oscar-winning actor whose career spanned over six decades had an illustrious career, which included iconic roles in films such as Bonnie and Clyde, The French Connection, and Unforgiven.
He received two Academy Awards and several nominations throughout his career.
The actor, who had ditched the bright lights of Hollywood for a quiet life with his wife in New Mexico, left an indelible mark on film and culture.
His gruff demeanor, sharp wit, and humility made him a beloved figure both on and off the screen. We take a look back at some of his most memorable quotes - straight from the man himself.
How it all started:
When the actor was 13, his father abandoned him, never to return. His mother then became an alcoholic. At 16, he “suddenly got the itch to get out.”
Lying about his age, he joined the US Marines and his film career took off in his early thirties. Sadly, his mother died in a fire started by her own cigarette.
“Dysfunctional families have sired a lot of pretty good actors,” he said in a 2001 interview with The New York Times.
On his early career:
The actor shared his unconventional path to fame with The New York Times: “I started out as a Marine, then a salesman, then an actor. I guess I’ve always been looking for the right fit,” he explained in 2008
On acting:
In a 2001 interview with The Guardian, Hackman humbly reflected on his career: “I’m not a trained actor. I didn’t go to Juilliard. I just kind of fell into it, and I’ve been trying to figure it out ever since.”
He also grumpily complained to AP News: "I was trained to be an actor, not a star. I was trained to play roles, not to deal with fame and agents and lawyers and the press."
On fame:
Speaking to The New York Times in 2008, the actor who opted for a quiet life in New Mexico when he retired, also downplayed his stardom: “I don’t think I’ve ever been comfortable with the idea of being a star. I’m just a working actor who got lucky.”
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On Hollywood:
Hackman didn’t mince words when he slammed the industry to Premiere Magazine in 1990: “Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.”
On Hollywood giving him the ick:
In his later years, Hackman turned to writing novels and settled on his Santa Fe ranch, where he preferred gazing at the Colorado Rockies from his hilltop home rather than revisiting his films on television.
“I’ll watch maybe five minutes of it,” he told Time magazine, “and I’ll get this icky feeling, and I turn the channel.”
On his work ethic:
But despite resenting Hollywood, he still took his work seriously. In a 2004 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he revealed his no-nonsense approach: “I’ve always believed in showing up on time, knowing my lines, and not being a jerk. It’s not rocket science.”
On critics:
He joked with Empire Magazine in 1998 about ignoring reviews: “I don’t read reviews. If I believe the good ones, I have to believe the bad ones, and I’d rather just live in ignorance.”
On his co-stars:
In a 2003 interview with The Los Angeles Times, he compared acting to tennis and shared rare praise for his contemporaries: “Working with great actors is like playing tennis with someone better than you. It makes you step up your game.”
On his mark on Hollywood:
“I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work,” he said about his career in a 2001 interview with The Guardian.
On his iconic roles:
In a 2004 chat with The Hollywood Reporter, he shrugged off the hype: “People always ask me about Popeye Doyle or Little Bill. I just tell them, ‘I showed up, said the words, and went home.’”
“I’ll watch maybe five minutes of it,” he once told Time magazine, “and I’ll get this icky feeling, and I turn the channel.”
On his sense of humour:
Famous for his dry sense of humour, Hackman told Empire Magazine in 1998 with a chuckle: “I think I’m funnier than people give me credit for. I just don’t feel the need to prove it.”
On aging:
He quipped to The Telegraph in 2011: “Getting old is like being a car. Eventually, the parts start to wear out, and you’re just hoping the engine holds up.”
On retirement:
In a 2011 chat with The Telegraph, he shared his thoughts on life after Hollywood: “I’ve been retired for a long time. I don’t think about acting much anymore. I’m more interested in writing.”
On his retirement projects:
In a 2011 interview with The Guardian, he shared his new passion: “I’ve been writing novels. It’s a lot easier than acting. No one yells ‘Cut!’ when you make a mistake.”
He also said elsewhere that his wife is very involved in his post-Hollywood hobby. "I write in the morning from about eight till noon, and sometimes again a bit in the afternoon. In the morning I start off by going over what I had done the previous day, which my wife has happily typed up for me."
On his marriage:
In 1956, Hackman married Fay Maltese, a bank teller and they had a son, Christopher, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, but divorced in the mid-1980s. In 1991 he wed Arakawa, a classical pianist.
The star opened up to People Magazine about his wife in 2004: “Betsy has been my rock. She’s kept me grounded and focused on what really matters.”
He also said a few years ago: "My wife and I take what we call our Friday comedy day off. We watch standup comics on TV. The raunchier the better. We love Eddie Izzard."
On life:
He poignantly offered some sage advice to The Los Angeles Times in 2003: “Life’s too short to take seriously. Just do your best, be kind, and try not to screw up too much.”
