Gene Hackman in Behind Enemy Lines, 2001 (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that foul play has not been ruled out in the investigation of Hackman and Arakawa’s passing.
Yesterday, Gene Hackman, legendary actor and former U.S. Marine, passed away at the age of 95 alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, in their Santa Fe home in New Mexico. Authorities have not determined the exact cause of their deaths. Hackman, who built a storied career in Hollywood, also had a remarkable military background.
Eugene Hackman in the Marine Corps (Photo: Marine Corps)
Born Eugene Allen Hackman on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, Hackman moved to Danville, Illinois, during the Great Depression. At 16, eager to escape his circumstances, he lied about his age and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1947. Initially serving as a field radio operator, Hackman transitioned into broadcast journalism, working as an announcer for Armed Forces Radio. His service took him to China amid the Chinese Civil War, where he was stationed in Qingdao and Shanghai as part of Operation Beleaguer. The mission was to repatriate displaced Japanese and Korean citizens while preventing Japanese military equipment from falling into communist hands. The operation was dangerous, with American forces engaging in several conflicts, resulting in casualties among the Marines.
After the U.S. withdrew from China, Hackman was stationed in Japan and Hawaii until a motorcycle accident led to his discharge in 1951. He briefly attended the University of Illinois using the GI Bill but ultimately pursued acting, studying at the Pasadena Playhouse. Despite early doubts about his prospects, including being voted “Least Likely to Succeed,” Hackman persevered and became one of the most respected actors of his generation.
Hackman’s film career spanned more than four decades, with several military-themed roles. One of his most prominent military films was A Bridge Too Far (1977), where he portrayed Polish General Stanisław Sosabowski in the World War II drama about Operation Market Garden. In Uncommon Valor (1983), he played a determined father leading a mission to rescue American POWs left behind in Vietnam. His role as Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton in Bat*21 (1988) depicted a real-life Air Force officer’s harrowing escape from enemy territory during the Vietnam War.
Hackman brought depth and authenticity to military characters, often drawing from his own experiences in the Marine Corps. He also delivered a powerful performance in Crimson Tide (1995) as Captain Frank Ramsey, the authoritative and unyielding commander of a nuclear submarine locked in a tense standoff with his executive officer, played by Denzel Washington. In Behind Enemy Lines (2001), he portrayed Admiral Leslie Reigart, a commanding officer overseeing the rescue of a downed naval aviator in hostile territory. Although he retired from acting in 2004, Hackman maintained a connection to the military, narrating documentaries such as The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima (2016) and We, the Marines (2017). His legacy extends beyond Hollywood, making a lasting impact on both the entertainment industry and the military community.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.