Gene Hackman, 94, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 62, were seen in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday for the first time in two decades.
The reclusive actor, who hasn’t starred in a movie for the past 20 years, was seen grabbing his wife’s arm for balance as the couple grabbed a bite to eat at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen.
The legendary two-time Oscar winner and his longtime partner seemed to be in good spirits as they left the restaurant together.
Hackman, who turned 94 in January, was dressed perfectly for a casual day, sporting a gray wool sweater over a casual plaid shirt, green pants and black sneakers.
His outfit was completed with a khaki baseball cap and sunglasses. Her gray hair was tucked behind her ear under her cap and she wore her facial hair in a neat mustache.
Gene Hackman, 94, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 62, were seen in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday for the first time in two decades.
The reclusive actor, who hasn’t starred in a movie for the past 20 years, was seen grabbing his wife’s arm for balance as the couple grabbed a bite to eat at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen.
The legendary two-time Oscar winner and his longtime partner seemed to be in good spirits as they left the restaurant together.
Hackman, who turned 94 in January, was dressed perfectly for a casual day, sporting a gray wool sweater over a casual plaid shirt, green pants and black sneakers.
Before dinner, Hackman enjoyed a cup of coffee and some apple pie at a local Speedway store, according to the New York Post.
The couple’s outing marks the first time they were seen together in public in 21 years, the last time being at the 2003 Golden Globes, where they won the Cecil B. deMille Award.
It was also a rare sighting for the star: His last film role was opposite Ray Romano and Christine Baranski in the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport.
On July 7 of the same year, he gave a rare interview to Larry King in which he announced that he had no new film projects underway and that he believed his acting career was over.
Years later, he confirmed his retirement while promoting his third novel, Escape From Andersonville in 2008.
His outfit was completed with a khaki baseball cap and sunglasses. Her gray hair was tied behind her ear under her hat and she wore a neat mustache.
The couple’s outing marks the first time they have been seen together in public in 21 years, the last time being at the 2003 Golden Globes, where they won the Cecil B. deMille Award.
In 1991, Hackman walked down the aisle with Arakawa, a retired classical pianist 30 years his junior. He has rarely seen the couple together in public.
The couple was photographed in 2003 at the Golden Globe Awards, where Hackman won the Cecil B. deMille Award.
He told Reuters at the time: “I haven’t given a press conference to announce my retirement, but yes, I’m not going to perform anymore.”
“I’ve been told not to say that in recent years, in case some really wonderful part comes out, but I really don’t want to do it anymore.”
He also explained his passion for writing novels, saying, “I actually like the solitude of it.” It’s similar in some ways to acting, but it’s more private and I feel like I have more control over what I’m trying to say and do.’
‘There is always a commitment in acting and in film, you work with a lot of people and everyone has an opinion. … I don’t know if I like it more than acting, it’s just different. I find it relaxing and comforting.’
Hack was seen using a cane as he left a New Mexico restaurant on Thursday.
The couple seemed to be in good spirits after their dinner date.
Hackman was dressed perfectly for the day, keeping comfortable in sturdy black sneakers.
In 2011, GQ asked him if he would ever come out of retirement to make one more film, to which Hackman responded, “If I could do it in my own house, maybe, with nothing bothered and just one or two people.” .’
He hasn’t stayed completely away from the industry, however, as he has narrated two Marine Corps documentaries: The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima (2016) and We, The Marines (2017).
Hackman began his acting career nearly 70 years ago, joining the Pasadena Playhouse in 1956, where he became friends with fellow aspiring actor Dustin Hoffman.
He eventually moved to New York in 1963 and began acting in several Off-Broadway plays and smaller television roles.
The actor really made a name for himself in the 1970s, when he was nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Supporting Actor for the 1970 film, I Never Sang for My Father.
The following year he officially became a leading man and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of New York City detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection.
He continued to work steadily, including in the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation (1974) before landing the role of supervillain Lex Luthor in 1978’s Superman: The Movie.
In the 1980s he starred in several films, including Reds (1981), Under Fire (1983), Hoosiers (1986), No Way Out (1987), and Mississippi Burning (1988).
He officially became a leading man when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of New York City detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection (1971).
He continued to work steadily, including on the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation (1974; pictured).
The 1990s brought him his second Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actor for his work as the sadistic sheriff ‘Little’ Bill Daggett opposite Clint Eastwood in 1992’s Unforgiven.
Hackman’s last film role was opposite Christine Baranski in the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport.
The 1990s brought him his second Oscar when he won Best Supporting Actor for his work as the sadistic sheriff ‘Little’ Bill Daggett opposite Clint Eastwood in 1992’s Unforgiven.
He completed that decade also starring in Narrow Margin (1990), Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), The Firm (1993), The Chamber (1996), Wyatt Earp (1994), The Quick And The Dead (1995). , Crimson Tide (1995), Get Shorty (1995), Absolute Power (1997), The Birdcage (1996) and Enemy Of The State (1998).
Hackman continued to be active in the early 2000s with roles in Behind Enemy Lines (2001), Heist (2001), Runaway Jury (2003), and even won the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for The Royal Tenenbaums. 2001.
Hackman divorced his first wife, Faye Maltese, in 1986 after spending 30 years together and raising three children.
Five years later, he walked down the aisle with Arakawa, a retired classical pianist 30 years his junior.
In an interview with Empire in 2020, the retired actor said he enjoyed watching the DVDs that Arakawa rented.
“We like the simple stories that some small, low-budget films manage to produce,” he said.
‘Friday night is reserved for a Comedy Channel marathon, with a special focus on Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is astonishing.’