Gene Hackman's death has been among the biggest tragedies that have hit Hollywood so far this year. When he was found dead on February 26, the actor was 95 years old. He had a decades-long career that began with an uncredited role as a cop in the 1961 movie Mad Dog Coll. Hackman then played a series of small roles in TV shows and films before having one of his first breakout roles, playing a supporting character in Bonnie and Clyde, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination.
Four years after Bonnie and Clyde, Hackman's role as Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection would solidify his stardom. After being nominated for Oscars for his supporting roles in Bonnie and Clyde and I Never Sang for my Father, The French Connection earned him his first win. He would later be nominated for two more Academy Awards, winning again for his supporting role in Unforgiven.
Four years after Bonnie and Clyde, Hackman's role as Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection would solidify his stardom. After being nominated for Oscars for his supporting roles in Bonnie and Clyde and I Never Sang for my Father, The French Connection earned him his first win. He would later be nominated for two more Academy Awards, winning again for his supporting role in Unforgiven.
- 3/12/2025
- by Hannah Gearan
- ScreenRant
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Chaos: The Manson Murders (Errol Morris)
Over half a century later, what new information can be gleaned from the nights of August 9 and 10, 1969? Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring’s riveting (if convoluted) book Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties––released in June 2019, between the Cannes premiere and theatrical release of Quentin Tarantino’s cathartic rewrite of that history––argues that while all the evidence of the murders has been gleaned, there’s a complex and knotty web of conspiracies for the motivations, some more plausible than others. To pare down the 528-page book to its most overarching theory, it postulates Manson may have been allowed (and perhaps even directed) by the CIA to concoct a reign...
Chaos: The Manson Murders (Errol Morris)
Over half a century later, what new information can be gleaned from the nights of August 9 and 10, 1969? Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring’s riveting (if convoluted) book Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties––released in June 2019, between the Cannes premiere and theatrical release of Quentin Tarantino’s cathartic rewrite of that history––argues that while all the evidence of the murders has been gleaned, there’s a complex and knotty web of conspiracies for the motivations, some more plausible than others. To pare down the 528-page book to its most overarching theory, it postulates Manson may have been allowed (and perhaps even directed) by the CIA to concoct a reign...
- 3/7/2025
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Gene Hackman, the legendary everyman actor who won two Oscars before stepping away from Hollywood in 2004, and Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, N.M., home on Wednesday. Hackman was 95. Arakawa, whom he married in 1991, was 64.
While authorities did not suspect foul play, the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa have been ruled suspicious. A detective's affidavit stated that "an open prescription bottle scattered pills" were found on a bathroom counter near Arakawa's body. One of the couple’s dog, a German shepherd, was found dead in the bathroom closet, about 15 feet from Arakawa. Two other family dogs were found alive.
A maintenance worker discovered the bodies on Wednesday. Arakawa was found in the bathroom near a space heater. Her body showed signs of decomposition, per the detective report. Hackman's body, in a similar state, was found in the mud room appearing as if he had "suddenly fallen.
While authorities did not suspect foul play, the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa have been ruled suspicious. A detective's affidavit stated that "an open prescription bottle scattered pills" were found on a bathroom counter near Arakawa's body. One of the couple’s dog, a German shepherd, was found dead in the bathroom closet, about 15 feet from Arakawa. Two other family dogs were found alive.
A maintenance worker discovered the bodies on Wednesday. Arakawa was found in the bathroom near a space heater. Her body showed signs of decomposition, per the detective report. Hackman's body, in a similar state, was found in the mud room appearing as if he had "suddenly fallen.
- 2/27/2025
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Unfortunately, we have to get the day started with some sad news today, as it has been reported that we’ve lost one of the great legends of cinema, Gene Hackman, at the age of 95. Hackman, his retired pianist wife, 63-year-old Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were all found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. Yahoo reports that New Mexico police have said that the causes of death are under investigation, “but they do not believe foul play is a factor at this time.” Of course, there’s a lot of speculation going around that the cause of death may be carbon monoxide poisoning, but nothing has been confirmed as of right now.
Born on January 30, 1930 in San Bernadino, California, Eugene Allen Hackman did a lot of moving around in his younger years, but had already decided that he wanted to be an actor...
Born on January 30, 1930 in San Bernadino, California, Eugene Allen Hackman did a lot of moving around in his younger years, but had already decided that he wanted to be an actor...
- 2/27/2025
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe, Nm.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed just after midnight Thursday local time that the couple had died, along with one of their dogs.
A statement from the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office read: “On February 26, 2025 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95 and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased.
“Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time however exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.”
Related: 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries
Deputies were responding to a welfare check at the home after a neighbor called authorities,...
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed just after midnight Thursday local time that the couple had died, along with one of their dogs.
A statement from the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office read: “On February 26, 2025 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95 and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased.
“Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time however exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.”
Related: 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries
Deputies were responding to a welfare check at the home after a neighbor called authorities,...
- 2/27/2025
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Actor and longtime SAG activist Yale Summers died Sunday of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 78. Summers served more than 27 years on the SAG National Board of Directors, 18 years on the National Executive Committee, was national recording secretary and past national treasurer for the guild, and was an emeritus director and a past member of the SAG Foundation board and a trustee of the SAG Pension & Health Funds. He also served 24 years on both the Los Angeles Local Board and National Board of Directors of AFTRA. He also helped found and produce the SAG Awards. Summers made his acting debut with a small part in the 1961 film Mad Dog Coll but did most of his acting on television, playing Dr. Bob Ayres on General Hospital, Jack Dayne on Daktari and Rodney Harrington on Return To Peyton Place.
- 5/7/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
By Harris Lentz, III
Character actor John Davis Chandler made his film debut as the sniveling psychotic gangster in the title role of 1961’s Mad Dog Coll. Over the next three decades he appeared in numerous films and television productions, often typecast as weasely villains in western and crime productions. He was the crazed Acid in the 1968 exploitation film The Hooked Generation, a shark poacher in Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976), and a vicious pot farmer in Whiskey Mountain(1977).
Chandler was born in Hinton, West Virginia, on January 28, 1937. He appeared frequently in films and television from the early 1960s. His film credits include Sam Peckinpah’s Ride the High Country (1962) as Jimmy Hammond, Major Dundee (1965), the werewolf tele-film Moon of the Wolf (1972) with Bradford Dillman and David Janssen, Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), Capone (1974) as gangster Hymie Weiss, The Outlaw Josie Wales (1976) with Clint Eastwood, Chesty Anderson, Usn (1976), the horror...
Character actor John Davis Chandler made his film debut as the sniveling psychotic gangster in the title role of 1961’s Mad Dog Coll. Over the next three decades he appeared in numerous films and television productions, often typecast as weasely villains in western and crime productions. He was the crazed Acid in the 1968 exploitation film The Hooked Generation, a shark poacher in Mako: The Jaws of Death (1976), and a vicious pot farmer in Whiskey Mountain(1977).
Chandler was born in Hinton, West Virginia, on January 28, 1937. He appeared frequently in films and television from the early 1960s. His film credits include Sam Peckinpah’s Ride the High Country (1962) as Jimmy Hammond, Major Dundee (1965), the werewolf tele-film Moon of the Wolf (1972) with Bradford Dillman and David Janssen, Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), Capone (1974) as gangster Hymie Weiss, The Outlaw Josie Wales (1976) with Clint Eastwood, Chesty Anderson, Usn (1976), the horror...
- 5/20/2010
- by Harris Lentz
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
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