Francis Ford Coppola, Piers Morgan, other celebs pay tribute to 'greatest' Gene Hackman after his death

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: The world of cinema is in mourning as tributes pour in for one of its greatest stars, Gene Hackman, the legendary actor who died at the age of 95, alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63.

The couple was found in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home, along with their beloved dog, as Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the tragic news, stating that there was no foul play, though further details about the time or cause of death were not disclosed. 

Several celebrities paid tribute to the legendary Oscar-winning actor for his contribution to cinema and called him "the finest screen actor ever."

1. Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Gene Hackman in 'The Conversation', honored his late collaborator on Instagram, writing, "The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman, a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution."

2. Dara O Briain

Comedian Dara O Briain took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Hackman’s impeccable talent, writing, "Ah, Gene Hackman. The finest screen actor ever, I think. Not a single duff performance, in a long, long career. And the best delivery ever of a single word: when he says 'Cigars!' in Young Frankenstein."

3. George Takei

George Takei paid tribute to the 'French Connection' and 'Unforgiven' star with a heartfelt message: "We have lost one of the true giants of the screen. Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it. He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.

4. Piers Morgan 

Piers Morgan described Hackman’s passing as "What an incredibly sad end to a remarkable life. RIP."

5. Edgar Wright

Filmmaker Edgar Wright, co-writer and director of 'Shaun of the Dead', called him simply "The greatest…"

6. Peter Egan

On GB News, actor Peter Egan reflected on Gene Hackman’s unforgettable screen presence: "I first saw him in Bonnie and Clyde in the late '60s and he kind of burned his way through the screen." Egan praised Hackman’s "wonderful ability to draw you into the heart of each character he was playing."

7. Lorraine Kelly

Lorraine Kelly reflected on his incredible career live on 'Good Morning Britain', saying, "That is a real shocker, I was just reading about what an amazing actor he is, when you think of the movies that he's been in... French Connection, everybody remembers that! Wonderful, wonderful film! I had no idea he was 95! That's really really sad."

She continued, "He's an absolute icon, brilliant. He was so funny in Birdcage*... he could do drama, he could do comedy, he could do absolutely anything."

8. Studio Canal UK

Even major studios acknowledged the gravity of this loss. Studio Canal UK shared a touching tribute alongside a photo of the late actor, stating, "What a colossal loss for cinema today. Hugely saddened by the passing of one of the true greats - Gene Hackman. We send our deepest condolences." 

9. BAFTA

The BAFTA awards have also paid tribute to Hackman. On X the awards body wrote: “We are saddened to hear that the much-celebrated actor Gene Hackman has died aged 95. Hackman's illustrious career spanned over six decades and earned him BAFTA wins for his work in Unforgiven, The French Connection and The Poseidon Adventure.”

Gene Hackman's illustrious career

Widely regarded as one of the finest actors of the late 20th century, Gene Hackman delivered unforgettable performances across multiple genres.

He won Academy Awards for his portrayal of Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in William Friedkin’s 1971 action thriller ‘The French Connection’ and as a ruthless sheriff in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 Western ‘Unforgiven'.

His talent earned him additional Oscar nominations for ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ (1967), ‘I Never Sang for My Father’ (1970), and ‘Mississippi Burning’ (1988).

Hackman also became a pop culture icon for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in 1978’s ‘Superman’ and its 1980 sequel ‘Superman II'.

After a prolific career, he stepped away from acting in 2004, embracing a quiet life away from Hollywood.