Reclusive Hollywood star Gene Hackman was seen in public with his much younger wife for the first time in 21 years.
The 94-year-old actor was spotted in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday (March 28) with his partner Betsy Arakawa, 32 years his junior. Gene, who starred in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde and 1971's The French Connection, was seen arm-in-arm with as they visited Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen.
The actor also used a cane for support while walking down the stairs of the restaurant. Gene was wearing a gray fleece jacket over a blue plaid shirt with green-hued pants, DailyStar reports.
He finished his look with dark sunglasses and a baseball cap, while his wife donned a vibrant paisley print blouse. The couple, who married in 1991, appeared to be in good spirits.
Betsy, who is a classically trained pianist, was also wearing dark blue jeans and brown boots. The 62-year-old woman wore dangling earrings and sunglasses, almost identical to her husband's.
Other pictures of the pair showed Superman star Gene leaving a store with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and an apple pie in the other, and Betsy was seen carrying her blue coat on her arm while pointing. across the street, indicates DailyStar.
It was the first time they were seen side by side since they attended the Golden Globes in 2003. A year later, reclusive Gene retired from the industry completely.
Gene had last been seen publicly alone at his local Wendy's restaurant a year ago while enjoying a fast food lunch before relaxing in his white van. The two-time Oscar winner was wearing casual navy blue jeans and the same gray wool cap and sunglasses when he was seen loading gas into his truck.
In 2011, GQ asked him if he would ever come out of retirement to make one more film, to which the acting giant responded: "If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them bothering anything," says DailyStar.
Most recently, in October 2021, Gene, who has over 100 acting credits, gave his first interview in a decade on the 50th anniversary of his film The French Connection. "Filmmaking has always been risky, both physically and emotionally, but I choose to view that film as one moment in a checkered career of successes and mistakes," he told The New York Post. "The film certainly helped me in my career and I'm grateful for that," he added.
