Gene Hackman was a father of three.
The Oscar winner became a father for the first time in 1960 when he and then-wife Faye Maltese welcomed son Christopher Allen Hackman. The pair expanded their family with daughters Elizabeth Jean Hackman and Leslie Anne Hackman in 1962 and 1966, respectively.
While Gene’s children were growing up, he was away a lot as he worked on various film projects. During a 2000 interview with the Irish Independent, Gene, who ultimately retired from acting in 2004, acknowledged that his commitment to his job was tough on his kids.
“I couldn’t always be home with them when they were growing up and then, living in California,” he reflected. “They’ve had my success always hanging over their heads.”
After Gene split from Maltese in 1986, he moved on with classical musician Betsy Arakawa. The couple tied the knot in 1991 and remained together until their deaths in February 2025. Gene was 95 while Arakawa was 64.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy,” Elizabeth and Leslie said in a statement to Us Weekly. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Keep scrolling to get to know Gene’s family:
Faye Maltese
Gene and Maltese tied the knot in 1956 after dating for a year. They remained married for three decades before they divorced in 1986. Maltese died in 2017.
Christopher Allen Hackman
Gene’s only son was born in 1960. At one point, Christopher considered following in his dad’s acting footsteps but ultimately decided against it.
“My son thought he wanted to be an actor at one time and was in New York, and I wrote him a couple of little monologues,” the French Connection actor recalled in a January 2020 interview with Empire magazine. “I guess that’s where I started. I really enjoyed it. Ideas would just pop into my head and I would write them down.”
Gene previously confessed that he and his son had a strained relationship due to him being gone for work a lot while Christopher was growing up.
“I lost touch with my son in terms of advice early on,” Gene said in a 2011 interview with GQ. “Maybe it had to do with being gone so much, doing location films when he was at an age where he needed support and guidance. It was very tough for me to be gone for three months and then come home and start bossing him around.”
While Gene and Christoper had some tough times, the pair were apparently always able to hug it out.
“We still hug to this day, and I thank God that we are able to do that,” Gene said in a 1984 interview with journalist Leta Powell Drake. “I don’t think we’ll ever have a point where we have to shake hands. That was a real stretch for me in the film and one of the coldest things that one can do is not be aware and be insensitive to that need of a child to be wrapped in a father’s arms.”
Elizabeth Jean Hackman
Gene and Maltese welcomed Elizabeth in 1962 and she has remained out of the spotlight. While Elizabeth kept a low profile for most of her life, she occasionally stepped out with her dad at various events including premieres for Superman and The Chamber.
Elizabeth has a daughter named Annie.
Leslie Anne Hackman
Much like her sister, Leslie — who was born in 1966 — has also remained a private person. She has attended several Hollywood events alongside her dad including the 41st Annual Golden Globe Awards and movie premieres.
Betsy Arakawa
Gene and Arakawa reportedly met at the gym in the ‘80s. The couple wed in 1991 and Arakawa became a stepmother to Gene’s three kids. While the actor and the classical pianist lived together in Santa Fe, New Mexico, they would attend several events together around the world.
Us confirmed in February 2025 that Gene and Arakawa were found dead in their home. While Elizabeth shared to TMZ that the family suspected that Gene and Arakawa died from carbon monoxide poisoning, an official cause of death has yet to be determined.
Read the full article here
