Talk about having good genes. In order to show that he is still in great shape, Hollywood veteran Gene Hackman mowed the lawn at his Santa Fe, New Mexico estate.
At a nearby Wendy’s earlier in the day, the two-time Oscar winner placed an order through the drive-thru while fueling up for arduous labor.
It was a unique chance to see the retiring and reclusive actor, who last made an appearance in the 2004 comedy “Welcome to Mooseport. ”.
Despite being one of the top actors in the business and appearing in classic movies like “The French connection,” “The Conversation,” “Superman,” “Hoosiers,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums,” Hackman has long shied away from the spotlight of Hollywood. ”.
The father of three, who has lived in New Mexico his entire life with his pianist wife Betsy Arakawa, declines all interviews other than those with The Post.
Hackman spoke about his “checkered career of hits and misses” in his first interview in ten years, which he gave to The Post in late 2021. ”.
On the occasion of “The French Connection’s” 50th anniversary, the star said, “The film certainly helped me in my career, and I am grateful for that.”. He won his first Best Actor Oscar in 1972 for “The French Connection,” a hugely popular film.
The likeable actor went on to say that he didn’t enjoy watching his own films again and hadn’t seen the classic criminal caper since 1971.
He admitted in an interview with The Post that he hadn’t seen the film since it was first shown 50 years prior in a small, dark theater at the headquarters of a post-production company.
In the 1980s, Hackman relocated to Santa Fe from wealthy Montecito, California.
More than 10 homes, including a mansion in New Mexico that was featured in Architectural Digest, were designed and built with the actor’s help.
Since leaving Hollywood, the actor has kept busy writing books, such as the 2013 police thriller “Pursuit.”. ”.
Despite being in his 90s, Hackman has continued to enjoy cycling, which keeps him in shape.
In 2012, a pickup truck struck the actor as he was bicycling in Florida. He was airlifted to the hospital, where he made a full recovery.