![\"Gene](\"http:\/\/swiftnewsy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_3479.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nA Love Story That Stood the Test of Time<\/p>\n
Lanham insists that there was no indication of suicide, especially given Hackman and Betsy\u2019s deep love for their dogs\u2014one of which was found dead near Betsy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you knew how much they loved those dogs, it wouldn\u2019t make sense,\u201d Lanham said. \u201cBetsy drove a Land Cruiser, and all you\u2019d see were the ears of these huge German Shepherds with beautiful Betsy behind the wheel.\u201d<\/p>\n
He recalled the couple\u2019s kindness when his own dog, Louie, passed away.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey came to the restaurant to say they were sorry and sent a really nice card. People don\u2019t do that. It shows who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mischievous Side of a Hollywood Icon<\/p>\n
Despite his serious on-screen presence, Hackman had a playful, mischievous streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe loved pranks,\u201d Lanham said, laughing as he recalled a July 4th party at an exclusive Santa Fe country club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe club had set up water troughs for kids with squirt guns. Gene went over, negotiated with an eight-year-old to get a squirt gun, then filled it with red wine. Next thing I know, he\u2019s chasing people around this fancy club, laughing his ass off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another time, Hackman convinced Lanham to go all out with a cowboy outfit for a Western event\u2014then showed up in a regular shirt and hiking boots.<\/p>\n
\u201cI go, \u2018What the hell?\u2019 and he just started laughing. He said, \u2018Where\u2019d you go, the props department for all that?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
A Reluctant Star Who Never Watched His Own Movies<\/p>\n
Lanham revealed a surprising detail about Hackman\u2019s legendary acting career\u2014he never watched his own films.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made over 80 movies, but he never saw a single one,\u201d Lanham said.<\/p>\n
One of Hackman\u2019s most intense roles was in Mississippi Burning (1988), where he played an FBI agent.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s this scene where Gene grabs a guy in a barber chair, puts a straight razor to his throat, and it looks real. I asked, \u2018Gene, how did you do that?\u2019 He said, \u2018I don\u2019t know, I\u2019ve never seen it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The Final Years of Captain Hollywood<\/p>\n
In his later years, Hackman embraced a quiet life in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He painted, but like his films, he refused to look at his finished work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he painted a mural in my restaurant, he wouldn\u2019t come in to see it,\u201d Lanham said.<\/p>\n
The actor also had a running joke about never paying his bets.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne day, I told him, \u2018You owe me $22 in unpaid bets.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
A week later, Hackman delivered a massive toolbox filled with $400 in pennies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a note on top, written in pirate language, burned around the edges like an old scroll. He signed it with a skull and crossbones,\u201d Lanham laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s my favorite piece of art in the restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n
An Adventurous Spirit Until the End<\/p>\n
Hackman\u2019s daring streak wasn\u2019t limited to pranks\u2014he loved flying.<\/p>\n
While filming Lucky Lady (1975) with Burt Reynolds, Hackman invited Reynolds up in his stunt plane.<\/p>\n
\u201cGene started flying upside down, doing loops, and Burt only lasted two minutes before he begged to be let out,\u201d Lanham said.<\/p>\n
Later, to rub it in, Hackman flew his plane upside down right over the movie set while they were filming.<\/p>\n
A Love That Saved Him<\/p>\n
Despite his rebellious nature, Hackman credited Betsy with saving his life.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was his protector,\u201d Lanham said. \u201cHe told me several times, \u2018If it wasn\u2019t for Betsy, I\u2019d be broke or dead.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Even in private, Betsy strictly protected Hackman\u2019s image, ensuring photographers didn\u2019t snap pictures of him at events.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe also kept him on a strict healthy diet\u2014but he found ways around it,\u201d Lanham laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we played golf, I\u2019d look over, and he\u2019d have this huge honey bun. I asked, \u2018First time you got that?\u2019 and he said, \u2018No, and don\u2019t tell her either.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
A Hollywood Legend, A Devoted Husband, A Prankster at Heart<\/p>\n
Gene Hackman\u2019s passing marks the end of an era, but those who knew him best will remember him not just as an Oscar-winning actor, but as a fiercely private, mischievous, and deeply loving man.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were so tight, so wonderful together,\u201d Lanham said of Hackman and Betsy.<\/p>\n
As Hollywood and fans mourn, those closest to him will hold on to the stories, pranks, and the legacy of Captain Hollywood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the wake of Hollywood legend Gene Hackman\u2019s shocking death alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, a longtime friend and former business partner has shared intimate details about the … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23050"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23050\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23052,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23050\/revisions\/23052"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Gene](\"http:\/\/swiftnewsy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_3527.jpeg\")
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