Gene Hackman, a name that rings a bell for many, was more than just an award-winning actor. He had a playful side that many didn't know about.  He was known for his mischievous nature, especially when it came to pranks.  His friend and former business partner, Doug Lanham, shared a story about a time when Hackman paid off a $22 golf bet with a wheelbarrow full of pennies.  The note attached to the payment read: “I paid this debt under protest as I deem it to be taking advantage of old people. ”  Hackman signed the letter “Captain Hollywood, ” a nickname his friends called him.

        Hackman and Lanham met years ago at Jinja Bar & Bistro in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Lanham invited Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, to cook at his restaurant.  The couple accepted the invitation, and they had so much fun that they decided to invest in the restaurant.  They were business partners for almost 10 years.  Hackman and Arakawa were found dead in separate rooms of their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home.  Officials have called their deaths “suspicious. ”

        One of the couple’s dogs, a female German Shepherd named Bear, was found dead in a kennel, while two others were found alive on the property.  The cause and manner of death have not been determined.  An initial autopsy showed no sign of external trauma to either Hackman or Arakawa, and the couple tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning.  Results from toxicology tests and the full autopsy are pending.  Hackman likely died on Feb. 17, the last date his pacemaker recorded an “event. ”  Hackman and Arakawa were very private people, which has complicated efforts to put together a timeline of their final days.

        Hackman and Arakawa were known for their generosity, helping many local businesses financially, but they always did so quietly.  They didn’t want or need the credit.  The same goes for the 14 original artworks Hackman painted that line the walls of Jinja.  None of them are signed.  This was another attempt by the Hollywood icon to steer focus away from himself.

        Lanham discussed how Hackman had a “heart of gold” and said he was “very lucky” for their years of friendship.  He said Hackman was “the common man, ” very easy-going, and really enjoyed life.  He was interested in everything and everybody.  Hackman “really added to the texture of Santa Fe in a big way. ”  In a statement, Jesse Kesler, the couple’s personal contractor, thanked them “for the 16 plus years of opportunity, friendship and trust. ”  He specifically thanked Hackman for lending a hand on projects and for treating his son and employees as equals.  He said when Hackman was on the job, he was just another one of the guys.  “I could not believe at the time I was actually working side by side with a legend, ” Kesler said.

        Hackman was a man who loved to have fun and make others laugh.  He was a man who loved to help others and make a difference in the world.  He was a man who loved to live life to the fullest.  He was a man who will be missed by many.  He was a man who will be remembered for his generosity, his kindness, and his love for life.  He was a man who will be remembered for his pranks, his laughter, and his joy for life.

Gene Hackman: The Man Behind the Prankster

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