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Stories

What Happened To Gene Hackman Post-Retirement?

by Peace A

Published March 30, 2023

Gene

Gene Hackman has not appeared on the screen since he was featured in the 2004 film, Welcome to Mooseport, leaving fans wondering what he has been up to since then. He began pursuing his acting career in 1956 after serving in the Marine Corps as a teenager. “Acting was something I wanted to do since I was 10 and saw my first movie, I was so captured by the action guys,” the Mississippi Burning actor once said.

Gene started with guest starring roles on TV and some stage work before landing his debut film role as Norman in Lilith, also featuring Warren Beatty. Warren would later co-star in another famous movie with Gene in 1967— Bonnie And Clyde, which earned Gene an Academy nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Related:

  1. Catch A Rare Photo Of Gene Hackman Since His Retirement From The Spotlight In 2004
  2. How Stress Prompted Gene Hackman Into His Unexpected Retirement

Gene Hackman quit acting in the early 2000s

Gene Hackman
THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, Gene Hackman, 1995. ph: © TriStar Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

Gene was in film until the early 2000s, and although he confirmed his retirement years later, he never really said why until a couple of years ago. “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer,” Gene said in a 2008 interview with Reuters.

RELATED: 93-Year-Old Gene Hackman Seen In Rare Outing, Looking Active As Ever

He revealed that the possibility of a landing “wonderful part” in another movie led to his hesitation in making his retirement public initially. However, he made a decision to stop acting altogether after, noting, “I really don’t want to do it any longer.”

Gene Hackman
NARROW MARGIN, Gene Hackman, 1990. © TriStar Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

Health Issues and authoring novels

In 2020, Gene revealed the real reason for his retirement in an interview with Empire. The iconic actor explained that his health was at risk and he needed some rest. “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress,” Gene explained.

Veteran actor Gene Hackman leaving a midtown Manhattan hotel.

Following his 40 year successful acting career, Gene is now a novelist with several books to his name like Payback at Morning Peak, Pursuit, and The Wake of the Perdido Star. He lives in Santa Fe, Mexico with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, whom he wed in 1991.

Gene Hackman
BAT 21, Gene Hackman, 1988. ©TriStar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Gene — who fathers three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese — makes public appearances once in a while. According to an insider, he is doing well health wise. “His health is good, he still bicycles, does yard work and he’s a great handyman,” the insider told Closer. “After all the drama of Gene’s career, he loves the peaceful life he shares with the lovely Betsy.”

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