Gene Hackman’s pal Doug Lanham shares hilarious story of how ‘notorious’ late actor paid off a bet
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: The sudden deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, have left Hollywood and friends in shock.
Among those deeply affected is Doug Lanham, Hackman's close friend and longtime business partner, who has shared lighthearted memories of the iconic actor, including the time Hackman settled a golf bet with a toolbox full of pennies.
Lanham, like others close to the couple, can't seem to fathom the mysterious circumstances surrounding their deaths. Authorities believe that Hackman and Arakawa had been dead for weeks before their bodies were discovered at their New Mexico home on Wednesday, February 26.
The cause of death remains under investigation.
Gene Hackman’s longtime friend recalls fond memories with him
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Doug Lanham fondly reminisced about his time with actor Gene Hackman and the warm character of Betsy Arakawa. Lanham and Hackman were partners in Jinja Bar & Bistro, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Reflecting on Arakawa, Lanham shared, "She's incredible. Her love for animals, her love for her German Shepherds, was unbelievable. They were the loves of her life and that's why the news from the past couple of days is really unnerving, hard to understand. Hopefully, we get some answers."
Lanham then turned to a cherished memory of the late actor, saying, "Let me tell a story. This is Gene. We used to play a lot of golf, and we’d have friendly wagers, and it was Gene, Tom Allen, myself. And Gene was notorious for kind of welching on the bet."
Lanham continued, “So finally I said, ‘Gene, how about some cash, buddy?’ and he just kind of gave me that Gene Hackman look and shook his head, didn’t say anything.”
“Well, about a week later, I was in my office and the hostess came back and said ‘Mr Hackman’s here’ and I said ‘Oh, great. What table are they?’ and they said ‘No, he’s got this big toolbox and it’s on wheels, and he’s coming to your office,’" Lanham recalled.
"I said ‘What!’ So he pulls up, opens the door, he’s got this huge, huge toolbox on wheels. He said, ‘Here. Here’s your bet. Enjoy it. And there’s a note inside.’ He turned around and walked out," said Lanham.
He laughed as he finished the story, "Well, I opened the toolbox, and there was probably $700 worth of pennies. And then there was this document that he had tucked inside about his feelings about having to pay this bet. So we called him Captain Hollywood.’”
Gene Hackman’s pal Doug Lanham recounts how he first met him
It had been five or six years since Doug Lanham last saw Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, but he also shared the story of how he first met them and what led to their partnership.
Lanham recalled, “We actually met here in the restaurant. A mutual friend was having lunch with Gene and Betsy, and he introduced us. He was quite interested in the restaurant and the food.”
He went on, “Betsy’s a wonderful chef in her own right, just an incredible person. So, like an idiot, I said, ‘Hey, we’re gonna be cooking tomorrow, would you all like to join us?’ and they said, ‘Oh yeah, that would be great.’ I said, ‘Okay, let’s see what happens tomorrow.’”
Lanham fondly remembered how, at “exactly 2 o’clock,” Arakawa and Hackman walked into the restaurant, carrying a “cooler full of food” that Arakawa had prepared for everyone.
The investigation into 'The French Connection' actor and his wife's deaths continues. The autopsy reports and toxicology results are pending.
However, officials noted that the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning, and it is believed that the Oscar-winning actor likely died about nine days before his body was discovered.
