Gene Hackman (1930-2025)

[rostasi]

Foul play not suspected as actor Gene Hackman, wife and dog found dead. The couple was found during a welfare check after their neighbor called in concerned about their well-being.

[Rabshakeh]

I found the story very strange. 

[JSngry]

Yep.

But RIP anyway. A lot of great work.

[rostasi]

When I read stuff like this, I think of CO poisoning.

[clifford_thornton]

yes, or suicide.

RIP in any event -- he was truly great.

[rostasi]

You mean murder-suicide where the wife and dog are killed as well, but there's no hint of "foul play?"

[Rabshakeh]

Yeah. I also assumed carbon monoxide. Odd to not announce anything, but I guess that news moves too fast nowadays.

[clifford_thornton]

Well, there are those situations where the married couple both take something to end their lives, though giving something to the dog would be murder.

[mjazzg]

My first reaction was suicide pact but then I read how much younger his wife was and that made me wonder.

[clifford_thornton]

AP is reporting scattered pill bottles and no apparent gas leak.

[rostasi]

How about this:

Hackman dies (he's 95).
Wife can't live without him.
Takes pills.
How the dog died is still a mystery.
Is this on the level of a Masterpiece Theatre or Elsbeth episode?

[Dan Gould]

It's unfortunate we're talking about the circumstances more than the actor but when is the last time any famous person died along with his wife, at home, with no known violence involved. Plus one of apparently 3 total dogs.

[clifford_thornton]

yeah, it is a bit odd circumstantially. But you're right to point out that there are many great roles/films we should be commenting on.

The French Connection, The Conversation, Night Moves, Young Frankenstein, and Bonnie & Clyde are among my favorites. RIP.

[JSngry]

Signs of Hackman falling?

[GA Russell]

https://x.com/RandyRRQuaid/status/1895124970335801464

[JSngry]

46 minutes ago, GA Russell said:

https://x.com/RandyRRQuaid/status/1895124970335801464

My money's on the dog.

[jlhoots]

6 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

yeah, it is a bit odd circumstantially. But you're right to point out that there are many great roles/films we should be commenting on.

The French Connection, The Conversation, Night Moves, Young Frankenstein, and Bonnie & Clyde are among my favorites. RIP.

Unforgiven

[GA Russell]

6 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

The French Connection, The Conversation, Night Moves, Young Frankenstein, and Bonnie & Clyde are among my favorites. RIP.

I've never been much of a film buff, but I've seen all five of those.

My feeling at the time (and I may have been wrong) was that not many people saw Night Moves.  I enjoyed it.

[Holy Ghost]

15 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

Well, there are those situations where the married couple both take something to end their lives, though giving something to the dog would be murder.

Just thinking out loud, sounds like something similar to what happened in a bunker to a tee in Berlin near the end of WWII 🧐 

5 minutes ago, Holy Ghost said:

Just thinking out loud, sounds like something similar to what happened in a bunker to a tee in Berlin near the end of WWII 🧐 

I must add that you cannot "murder a dog" as dogs have no moral constitutionality; that only applies to human beings. The worst offense would be animal cruelty.

[clifford_thornton]

fair point, but it still seems highly horrible to kill a dog like that.

[GA Russell]

I saw a number of tweets over the weekend (none with links) that said...

1)  Hackman may have been dead for three weeks before his body was discovered.
2)  Mrs. Hackman's body was found in another room with a bottle of pills.
3)  The dog was found in a closet, and may have died from thirst.

[Holy Ghost]

On 3/1/2025 at 3:32 PM, clifford_thornton said:

fair point, but it still seems highly horrible to kill a dog like that.

100% agree with you, and growing up and having pets around me all my life, there is that bond between us and our pets, where I can't imagine doing something like this; but unfortunately, this stuff happens. 

3 hours ago, GA Russell said:

I saw a number of tweets over the weekend (none with links) that said...

1)  Hackman may have been dead for three weeks before his body was discovered.
2)  Mrs. Hackman's body was found in another room with a bottle of pills.
3)  The dog was found in a closet, and may have died from thirst.

From credible sources, the second two statements are true.

[JSngry]

I heard nine days, which is three weekends, which is not three weeks?

[Holy Ghost]

Still upset about this. He was one of those actors, e.g., Tommy Lee Jones, Ed Harris, Woody Harrelson, Bruce Willis, who could act the everyday guy, like Popeye Doyle. Although retired for some time, still very missed. 

 

[Ken Dryden]

Gene Hackman didn’t succumb to stardom like so many actors who try to act like they deserve the world. He siunds like a down to rarth guy living quietly with his wife in retirement. I can’t imagine not contacting a parent for two months like Hackman’s daughter. I would love to talk once more to my parents.