Anil Kapoor pays tribute to late actor Gene Hackman in an emotional post: 'A true legend whose legacy will live on'

Legendary Hollywood actor and Oscar winner Gene Hackman, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa, was found dead at their New Mexico home on Wednesday, alongside their beloved dog. The news has left fans across the world and the film fraternity in deep mourning. Among those paying tribute to the iconic actor is Bollywood star Anil Kapoor.

Anil Kapoor took to Instagram today and shared a collage of the actor's pictures along with the note, "Cannot believe the world no longer has Gene Hackman in it...His effortless performances in films like ‘The French Connection,’ ‘Unforgiven,’ and ‘The Firm’ are just a few times the world witnessed his genius. A true legend whose legacy will live on. Rest in peace."

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican website, authorities have stated that there are no immediate suspicions of foul play in the case, though investigations are still ongoing. Gene Hackman, aged 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, aged 64, were found deceased in their home on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1:45 p.m., as confirmed by a statement from the sheriff's office.

Hackman had been living a quiet life outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, away from the limelight in his later years. Over the course of his life, he was married twice. From his first marriage to Faye Maltese, which lasted from 1956 until their divorce in 1986, he had three children—Christopher, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne.

Sadly, Faye Maltese passed away in 2017. In 1991, Hackman found love again and married Betsy Arakawa, with whom he shared over three decades of companionship.

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Gene Hackman, a former Marine with a distinctive raspy voice, built an illustrious career spanning several decades, making a mark in Hollywood, television, and theatre. Beginning his journey in the early 1960s, he went on to star in over 80 films, earning a reputation as one of the industry's finest actors.

His breakthrough came with the 1967 classic Bonnie and Clyde, where he portrayed the brother of the infamous bank robber Clyde Barrow, a role that earned him his first Academy Award nomination. He continued to receive critical acclaim and was nominated once again for Best Supporting Actor in 1971 for his moving performance in I Never Sang for My Father.