Reclusive Hollywood star Gene Hackman was spotted in public with his much younger wife for the first time in 21 years.
The 94-year old actor stepped out in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Thursday (March 28) with his partner Betsy Arakawa, who is 32 years his junior. Gene, who starred in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde and The French Connection in 1971, was seen clutching Betsy’s arm as they visited Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen.
The actor also used a walking stick for support as he made his way down the restaurant’s steps. Gene wore a grey fleece over a blue checked shirt with green cargo pants.
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He completed his look with dark sunglasses and a baseball cap, whilst his spouse of 33 years donned a vibrant paisley-patterned blouse. The couple, who wed in 1991, appeared to be in good spirits.
Betsy, who is a classically trained pianist, also wore dark blue jeans and brown suede boots. The 62-year-old accessorised with dangly earrings and sunglasses, almost identical to her husband’s.
Further shots of the pair showed Superman star Gene leaving a convenience store carrying a hot cup of coffee in one hand and an apple pie in the other, with Betsy seen carrying her blue overcoat on her arm as she pointed across the road.
It marked the first time they had been seen side-by-side since they attended the Golden Globe Awards in 2003. A year later reclusive Gene retired from the industry completely.
Gene had last been seen publicly alone at his local Wendy’s drive-thru in March 2023 as he enjoyed a fast food lunch before relaxing in his white truck. The two-time Oscar winner wore casual navy jeans, and the same grey fleece cap and sunglasses as he was spotted pumping his truck with petrol.
In 2011, he was asked by GQ if he would ever come out of retirement to do one more film, to which the acting giant responded: “If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people.”
More recently, in October 2021, Gene – who has more than 100 acting credits – gave his first interview in a decade for the 50th anniversary of his film The French Connection. “Filmmaking has always been risky – both physically and emotionally – but I do choose to consider that film a moment in a checkered career of hits and misses,” he told The New York Post. “The film certainly helped me in my career, and I am grateful for that.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
