Why Gene Hackman Left Hollywood and Moved to New Mexico Before His Death

E! Online ^ | Feb 2025 | Tionah Lee

[CondoleezzaProtege]

After a storied career, that included over 70 film credits and two Academy Awards, Gene retired from film in 2004, after making his last appearance in Welcome to Mooseport.

Five years after trading in the lights of Hollywood for a quieter life in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife Betsy Arakawa—and 16 years before his death at the age of 95—the French Connection star finally explained why.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” Gene said in an interview with Empire magazine published in 2009. “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”

[BroJoeK]

InkStone: "WHY do we WORSHIP ‘America Haters’ ( celebrities ) ?
This says much about our corrupted morals."

alexander_busek: "Linked article contains no references to anything that even we staunch conservatives might consider evidence of being 'America-hating' or 'morally corrupted.' "

I always enjoyed and admired Gene Hackman's work, and never heard anything to suggest he was a "bad man" or "America hater".

[Red Badger]

My favorite Hackman movie was a comedy, “The Replacements” where he played a NFL Coach during a players strike and he had to coach a band of misfits, starring Keanu Reeves as QB..........Hackman’s comedy creds don’t get enough light shined on them!..............

[dljordan]

“My favorite Hackman movie was a comedy, “The Replacements” where he played a NFL Coach during a players strike”

Hilarious. The cheerleader tryouts were great.

[Ge0ffrey]

Proof he was an America hater? He moved to Santa Fe.

[bray]

I can still watch Enemy of the State and not be bored. He was an incredible actor.

[NickRails]

Haha Have you ever seen “Loose Cannons” 0% Rotten Tomato rating

[Let's Roll]

Only the ones that get media attention.

[ridesthemiles]

SOOOOOOOOOO-—A GUY WITH HEART ISSUES MOVES TO 7000’ ALTITUDE???

SOMEONE GAVE HIM BAD ADVICE.

[ridesthemiles]

NOTHING STRANGE???

SANTA FE is at 7000 FEET OF ALTITUDE.

NOT GREAT FOR A HEART.

[TigersEye]

Very true! Robert Duval is definitely another great one.
The dialogue could be really bad but you can’t wait to see and hear him say it.

[TigersEye]

Never saw that one (yet) but I think GH just took every movie offered to him. Or so it seemed. My impression was that he loved to work and no matter what it was he gave the best he could to the part. Total professional and no big Hollywood ego.

[TigersEye]

I think I’ve seen The Replacements but I’m not sure. Guess I’ll have to watch it again. :)

[TigersEye]

I did see Loose Cannons. I’m generally not a fan of comedies but I thought that one was pretty funny.

[TigersEye]

Proof that he wasn’t an America hater. (as good as your proof anyway)

Hackman spent his sophomore year at Storm Lake High School. He left home at the age of 16, lied about his age to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, and served four and a half years as a field radio operator. Hackman was stationed in China (Qingdao and later in Shanghai). When Communist revolutionaries conquered the mainland in 1949, he was reassigned to Hawaii and Japan.

[alexander_busek]

You?! (a Zidget worshipper)

I am a staunch conservative - though I doubt that you are: A true conservative would not libel a fellow conservative with a slur of that kind.

I have never expressed any feelings, one way or another, about the president of the Ukraine - though I admire the fact that he has NOT invaded a peaceful neighboring European country nor threatened to rain down nuclear fire on America, in contrast to Putin.

Regards,

[Bikkuri]

And you are full of caca.
You are definitely not a conservative. Libertarian, maybe.

Anyway, bye.

[alexander_busek]

alexander_busek: I have never expressed any feelings, one way or another, about the president of the Ukraine - though I admire the fact that he has NOT invaded a peaceful neighboring European country nor threatened to rain down nuclear fire on America, in contrast to Putin.

Bikkuri: And you are full of caca.

...because I state facts?!

1. FACT: I have never posted anything specifically about the president of Ukraine, and certainly not anything in the way of admiring or even only liking him.

2. FACT: The president of Ukraine has never invaded a peaceful neighboring European country. (Putin has.)

3. FACT: The president of Ukraine has never militarily threatened the United States - let alone threatened the use of nukes against us. (Putin has.)

And yet, I'm the one "full of caca."

Methinks your hat is screwed on too tight.

Regards,

[Bikkuri]

What fact? All of your BS made up facts?

Go to your lane and stay out of mine sauerkraut.

I said bye, and I meant bye.