“A very sad day for the cinema’s family,” the Mask of Zorro star wrote on X (formally known as Twitter) Feb. 27. “Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have passed away. My deepest condolences to friends, family and cinema lovers. RIP.”
And Star Trek’s George Takei, like many others, expressed that he will always remember Gene as a “giant” in the film industry.
“Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it,” George wrote on X Feb. 27. “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 work will live on forever.”
To look back at Gene’s life in photos, keep reading.
