Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were dead for some time, warrant shows
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- A search warrant shows that Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, his wife and one of their dogs had been dead for some time when a maintenance worker discovered their bodies at the couple's Santa Fe, New Mexico, home. The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that Hackman was found dead Wednesday in a mudroom and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found in a bathroom next to a space heater. There was an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the counter top near Arakawa. Authorities say foul play isn't suspected, but they haven't disclosed how the couple died and say the investigation is ongoing.
Gene Hackman, found dead at 95, was one of Hollywood's most respected actors
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman has been found dead at his home. He was 95. Hackman starred in "The French Connection," "Unforgiven" and dozens of other films. He was known for his studied portraits of reluctant heroes and conniving villains and won two Academy Awards. He was an early retiree and a late bloomer. Hackman was in his mid-30s when cast for "Bonnie and Clyde" and past 40 when he won his first Oscar, as the rules-bending New York detective "Popeye" Doyle in the 1971 thriller about tracking down Manhattan drug smugglers, "The French Connection."
5 notable Gene Hackman movies and where to watch them
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- It's a tall task to try to whittle Gene Hackman's career down to five notable films. One of the 20th century's greatest actors, Hackman's career spanned more than 40 years and a variety of roles. He had tough-guy parts like his roles in "The French Connection" and "Unforgiven" that won him Oscars as well as comedic turns in "Young Frankenstein" and "The Birdcage." Hackman played heroes, villains and one iconic sports coach in ways that captivated audiences. He was found dead in his Santa Fe home. He was 95.
Gene Hackman tributes pour in from Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, Bill Murray and more
Director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Viola Davis and director Paul Feig are among those paying tribute to Gene Hackman after his death at age 95. Coppola calls Hackman "a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. Director Edgar Wright simply called Hackman "the greatest." Director Paul Feig says Hackman was an inspiration to so many who love movies and had so many brilliant roles, including his performance in "The Conversation," which Feig says "changed the way I looked at acting." Actor Josh Brolin said he was the rare man who beat to his own drum.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Taylor Momsen and Blake Lively mourn death of Michelle Trachtenberg
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Taylor Momsen and Blake Lively are among those paying tribute to Michelle Trachtenberg, who died Wednesday. Gellar says she will always love her "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" co-star, Lively wrote Trachtenberg was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, while "Gossip Girl" co-star Chace Crawford called her "a force of nature" and "unapologetically funny and magnetic." "Buffy" co-star James Marsters called his former scene partner "fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person." Kate Beckinsale offered a sort of prayer: "Fly safe little bird." Trachtenberg was 39.
Gene Hackman and 'Hoosiers' long have been point of pride for tiny Milan, Indiana
The dazzling films of Gene Hackman stand out for sports fan for one reason: His unforgettable role as Norman Dale, coach of the feel-good, state champion Hickory Huskers from a tiny Indiana town. News of Hackman's death hit hard in the basketball-mad state. The movie was ranked as the No. 1 sports film of all-time by The Associated Press in 2020 and was released in 1986. Hackman starred as Dale, a man who was given a second chance at coaching after his first one ended after striking one of his players years earlier.
Music Review: Blackpink star Lisa's 'Alter Ego' is an ambitious, chameleonic solo debut
New York (AP) -- Lisa has officially stepped out on her own. One-fourth of the K-pop juggernaut Blackpink, the rapper/dancer/actor/singer will release her first full-length solo record on Friday. Titled "Alter Ego," the album is a genre-melding exploration of rap, dance and pop that show off a versatile artist ready to embrace her time alone in the spotlight, writes The Associated Press' Elise Ryan in her review. The album arrives as Lisa makes her acting debut in Season 3 of "The White Lotus" and prepares to perform on the Oscars stage. Ryan writes that Lisa's solo pop mostly works.
Katy Perry and Gayle King will join Jeff Bezos' fiancee Lauren Sanchez on Blue Origin spaceflight
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Katy Perry and Gayle King are headed to space with Jeff Bezos' fiancee Lauren Sanchez. Bezos' rocket company Blue Origin announced the all-female celebrity crew on Thursday. The company says Sanchez, a helicopter pilot and former TV journalist, picked the crew who will join her on a 10-minute spaceflight from West Texas. They will blast off sometime this spring. No launch date was given. Bezos flew to space on the first Blue Origin flight in 2021.
Michelle Trachtenberg, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Harriet the Spy' star, dies at 39
NEW YORK (AP) -- Michelle Trachtenberg, the actor known for "Gossip Girl," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Harriet the Spy" died Wednesday. She was 39. New York City police say they responded to a call at a residential high-rise building in Manhattan found Trachtenberg unresponsive and emergency medical services pronounced her dead at the scene. No criminal involvement is suspected and the investigation remains ongoing. Trachtenberg rose to fame at just 10, as the plucky titular snoop in the 1996 film "Harriet the Spy." Representatives for Trachtenberg did not immediately respond to a request for comment.