- The legendary actor treated himself to dessert and a cup of coffee
- Gene was seen for the first time in two decades with his wife last month
- The 94-year-old sported a casual look at a gas station in Santa Fe
Reclusive actor Gene Hackman enjoyed an afternoon pick-me-up when he stopped by a local New Mexico gas station to grab an apple pie and a coffee – just days after he was pictured with his 62-year-old wife for the first time in two decades.
The 94-year-old film legend, who has not starred in a movie for 20 years, was seen making his way out of a 7-Eleven, carrying his treats in his hands.
Superman star Gene’s latest appearance comes just two weeks after he made headlines the world over when he was seen enjoying an incredibly rare outing with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as the pair enjoyed a date night at a Santa Fe restaurant.
Images from their date showed Gene wearing a pair of cargo pants, a plaid shirt, grey zip-up vest, and a pair of black sneakers, while holding a black walking stick in one hand.
For his latest outing, the actor – who has withdrawn almost entirely from the spotlight in the years since his last on-screen turn – donned a similarly casual ensemble, although he went without his walking stick.
He was dressed perfectly for a casual day out, sporting a grey fleece sweater over a casual dark blue plaid shirt, charcoal sweatpants, and black sneakers.
His outfit was completed with a khaki baseball cap, while his grey hair was tucked behind his ear under the headwear, and he wore his facial hair in a neat mustache.
The legendary actor sported a similar outfit when he grabbed a bite to eat with his wife, who donned a floral blouse and a pair of dark denim jeans.
After grabbing himself an apple pie and coffee, Gene headed back to his car.
The couple’s outing last month marked the first time they were seen together in public for 21 years, with the last time being at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards, where he won the Cecil B. deMille award.
It was also a rare sighting of the star himself. Gene’s last movie role was in 2004 alongside Ray Romano and Christine Baranski in the hit comedy Welcome To Mooseport.
Later that same year, Gene gave a rare interview to Larry King, in which he announced that he had no new film projects lined up and believed his acting career was over.
Years later, he confirmed his retirement while promoting his third novel, Escape From Andersonville in 2008.
He told Reuters at the time: ‘I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer.’
‘I’ve been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don’t want to do it any longer.’
He also explained his passion for writing novels, saying: ‘I like the loneliness of it, actually. 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’s always a compromise in acting and in film, you work with so many people and everyone has an opinion. … I don’t know that I like it better than acting, it’s just different. I find it relaxing and comforting.’
In 2011, he was asked by GQ if he would ever come out of retirement to do one more film, to which Hackman responded: ‘If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people.’
He has not 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 befriended fellow aspiring actor Dustin Hoffman.
He eventually moved to New York in 1963 and began performing in several Off-Broadway plays and smaller TV roles.
The thespian truly made his name in the 1970s, when he was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for the 1970 flick, I Never Sang For My Father.
The following year he officially became a leading man, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as New York City Detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection.
He went on to have consistent work, including in 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).
The 1990s brought him his second Oscar as he earned the Best Supporting Actor gong for his work as sadistic sheriff ‘Little’ Bill Daggett alongside Clint Eastwood in 1992’s Unforgiven.
He rounded out that decade by 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).
He continued to be active in the early 2000s with roles in Behind Enemy Lines (2001), Heist (2001), Runaway Jury (2003), and even earned the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums.
In 1987, Gene Hackman divorced his first wife, Faye Maltese, 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 younger than him.
While speaking to Empire in 2020, the retired actor revealed that he enjoyed watching DVDs that Arakawa rented.
‘We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce,’ he said.
‘Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon, with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
