Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood and others honor Gene Hackman: 'No finer actor'

From Francis Ford Coppola to Antonio Banderas, directors and actors crossed Hollywood connected Thursday mourned the death of histrion Gene Hackman. The 95-year-old, champion known for his Oscar-winning roles successful 1971’s “The French Connection” and Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven,” was recovered dead, on with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their canine Wednesday successful their New Mexico home.

Following the quality of his death, erstwhile colleagues and fans of his enactment person taken to societal media to grant the “Bonnie and Clyde” actor.

Coppola, who directed Hackman successful the enigma thriller “The Conversation,” shared a representation of the brace connected set. Hackman played Harry Caul, a surveillance adept astatine a motivation crossroads, successful the 1974 film.

“The nonaccomplishment of a large artist, ever origin for some mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a large actor, inspiring and magnificent successful his enactment and complexity,” wrote Coppola. “I mourn his loss, and observe his beingness and contribution.”

Eastwood, 94, worked with Hackman connected “Unforgiven” — the Oscar-winning movie helium starred successful and directed. Hackman played ruthless Sheriff Little Bill Daggett and Eastwood portrayed William Munny, a retired hitman who takes connected 1 last job.

“There was nary finer histrion than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a mendacious note. He was besides a beloved person whom I volition miss precise much,” Eastwood said successful a connection to The Times.

Morgan Freeman besides appeared successful the 1992 Western arsenic retired outlaw Ned Logan. The 87-year-old histrion shared an representation of himself with Hackman and Monica Bellucci. The trio starred successful the French American thriller “Under Suspicion.”

“One of the idiosyncratic highlights of my vocation was bringing the French Film Gardé a Vue (Under Suspicion) to beingness with the incredibly talented Gene Hackman,” wrote Freeman. “And of course... Unforgiven. Rest successful peace, my friend.”

Two-time Oscar victor Tom Hanks posted a photograph on Instagram of Hackman from “The French Connection” with the caption, “There has ne'er been a “Gene Hackman Type.” There has lone been Gene Hackman.”

EGOT victor Viola Davis shared connected Instagram: “Loved you successful everything! The Conversation, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven—tough yet vulnerable. You were 1 of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.”

Banderas added: “A precise bittersweet time for the cinema’s family. Gene Hackman and his woman Betsy Arakawa person passed away. My deepest condolences to friends, household and cinema lovers. RIP,” on with a representation of the deceased couple.

Paul Feig, creator of “Freaks and Geeks” and manager of “Bridesmaids,” called the news, “So awful.”

“Gene was specified an inspiration to truthful galore of america who emotion movies. So galore superb roles. His show successful ‘The Conversation’ unsocial changed the mode I looked astatine acting and what actors could bring to a role. Such an astonishing career. RIP Mr. Hackman,” Feig wrote connected X.

“Star Trek” histrion George Takei called Hackman “one of the existent giants of the screen.”

“Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could consciousness a full beingness down it. He could beryllium everyone and nary one, a towering beingness oregon an mundane Joe. That’s however almighty an histrion helium was. He volition beryllium missed, but his enactment volition unrecorded connected forever,” he wrote.

Josh Brolin said connected Instagram: “I americium crushed by the abrupt deaths of Gene Hackman and his woman Betsy Arakawa (and their dog). Crushed. He was ever 1 of my favorites. Not galore who bushed to their ain drums similar helium did. Rest successful Peace”

“Shaun of the Dead” manager Edgar Wright simply said Hackman was “the greatest.”

Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths are inactive being investigated by the Santa Fe County sheriff, but the bureau said it does “not judge that foul play was a factor.” A sheriff’s lawman said the circumstances of their deaths were suspicious capable to warrant a deeper look.