Gene Hackman’s heartbreaking confession about his children before shock death

Gene Hackman, the two-time Oscar-winning actor, passed away on February 27, 2025, at 95. He often regretted not being more present for his children due to his acting career.

Gene Hackman, the two-time Oscar-winning actor, passed away on February 27, 2025, at the age of 95. He was found dead in his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog.

Despite his fame, Gene’s personal life was marked by a strained relationship with his children, something he later admitted to with a heartbreaking confession. Gene had been living a quiet, reclusive life after stepping away from the public eye over two decades ago. Born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, Gene had a tumultuous early life before finding his calling in acting. He married his first wife, Faye Maltese, in 1956, and the couple had three children together: Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1986 after nearly three decades together.

Gene Hackman admitted he regretted not being there for his children

In 1991, Gene married classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and they remained together until his death. While his professional life was filled with remarkable achievements, including iconic roles in The French Connection and Superman, his personal life was often marked by challenges, particularly his strained relationship with his children. Gene once admitted that his career took priority over his family life, which led to his children feeling distant from him during their formative years.

In an interview back in 2000, Gene told The Irish Independent: “I couldn’t always be home with them when they were growing up and then, living in California, they’ve had my success always hanging over their heads.”

In a GQ interview in 2012, Gene made a heartfelt confession about missing out on family moments. He replied when asked what advice he would give his son: “I lost touch with my son in terms of advice early on. 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.”

Christopher is Gene’s eldest child and only son. Gene previously revealed that his son had aspired to follow in his acting footsteps. Back in 2020, Gene told Empire Magazine: “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. 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 was seen in public with his two daughters at a few movie premieres ( 
Image:
Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Gene retired from acting in 2004 after starring in Welcome to Mooseport alongside Ray Romano and Christine Baranski. Following his retirement, he lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with Arakawa, far from the Hollywood spotlight. Gene rarely made public appearances, and his last known sighting was in 2023 when he was photographed near his home, looking healthy and active while doing yard work.

As a result, Gene’s children remained out of the public eye, with few details about their lives shared. What is known is that Christopher, now 65, dabbled in film and briefly worked as a camera operator. He was also reported to have a career in computer programming. Christopher is married to Marian Ann Hackman, though details about their children remain unknown. Gene’s daughter Elizabeth, 62, has worked in broadcast journalism and screenwriting. Leslie, the youngest at 58, has been seen with her father and sister Elizabeth on the red carpet during their early years.