Gene Hackman, the legendary actor popular for his roles in several movies such as The French Connection, Unforgiven, and The Royal Tenenbaums, has been the subject of intense speculation following the mysterious circumstances surrounding his passing. He was found dead at his Santa Fe, New Mexico residence with his wife and one of his three dogs.
While official reports have revealed that there was no evidence of foul play, leading to more controversies about the nature of his death, close friends and acquaintances of the late actor have come forward to share insights into the details of Hackman’s life in the latter end of his life.
Gene Hackman’s close friend expresses confusion about his death
During an interview with Fox News on Monday, Stuart Ashman, Hackman’s longtime and close friend, revealed that the late actor had gradually slowed down in recent years, which he attributed largely to his advancing age. He also mentioned that following the COVID-19 pandemic, Hackman embarked on a more reclusive lifestyle, as he took serious measures to protect his immune system.
Despite these observations, Ashman expressed his perplexity about the death of his dear friend, especially in the wake of various reports with differing accounts which have been circulating.
Family and friends share details about the last few months prior to Gene Hackman’s death
Corroborating Ashman’s observation, Family friends, Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, also revealed that Hackman went through a noticeable decline in the last few months prior to his unexpected passing. Although the couple did not reveal any details about what he might have been facing, they explained that the 95-year-old had restricted himself to the four walls of his home, which was a sharp contrast to his previous active lifestyle.
Hackman’s two daughters weighed in on their father’s death. They emphasized that he was in excellent health for his age, stating that as recently as last spring, Hackman was still capable of walking on his own, which was captured in photographs which showed him moving around the town with the assistance of a cane.