Mumbai: Veteran actor Anupam Kher has paid tribute to Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead at his home in New Mexico.
On Thursday, Kher took to his X account to share a series of pictures of the Hollywood legend, along with a heartfelt note recalling how one of Hackman’s performances left a lasting impact on him.
Reflecting on a cherished memory, Kher recounted watching I Never Sang for My Father in 1985 while filming Aakhri Raasta in Chennai. He shared how the emotional depth of Hackman’s portrayal deeply moved him, writing:
“The year was 1985. I was shooting for #AakhriRaasta in Chennai! One day, I packed up early and went to the hotel. There was an old black-and-white movie, #INeverSangForMyFather, on TV. A father and son story! I started watching it. The actor playing the son was young #GeneHackman. He was brilliant. I cried my heart out! Today, I know #Gene was old. Everybody has to go. But tears did roll out for the actor the world admired the most. Adieu, sir! I learned a lot from your performances! Om Shanti.”
Hackman, 95, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were all found deceased in their Santa Fe home, authorities confirmed.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza’s office stated that while no foul play is suspected, investigations are ongoing, pending a search warrant approval.
“All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant,” Mendoza told the Santa Fe New Mexican. Authorities have assured the community that there is no immediate danger.
One of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, Hackman was a five-time Oscar nominee and won two Academy Awards for The French Connection and Unforgiven. He also received two BAFTA Awards and four Golden Globes over a career spanning decades.
From The Poseidon Adventure to The Firm, Hackman continuously delivered remarkable performances. His role as surveillance expert Harry Caul in The Conversation remains one of his most lauded portrayals, while his performance in Downhill Racer is still regarded as masterful.
In 1990, Hackman, who had settled in Santa Fe with Arakawa, underwent angioplasty for congestive heart failure. He continued acting for 14 more years before retiring.
Aside from his cinematic legacy, Hackman was also a writer, co-authoring three novels with undersea archaeologist Daniel Lenihan and later penning Payback at Morning Peak in 2011.
Married twice, he had three children. His first marriage to Faye Maltese lasted three decades before ending in 1986. He married Arakawa, a classical pianist, in 1991.
Hackman’s impact on cinema remains immeasurable, and his passing marks the end of an era.
