Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy's Friends Remember Their Deep Connection: ‘She Just Adored Him'
In ABC News' special report The Last Days of Gene Hackman, which aired Tuesday, March 18, multiple people whom the network identified as friends of the couple spoke to their close relationship and warm personalities.
"Gene was a real guy's guy. He was a gentle giant, very calm," Kevin Bobolosky, identified as the couple's real estate broker, said. "Betsy, I think, mostly did all the cooking and cleaning on this big estate, out of love. She just adored him. So they had everything they wanted."
Stuart Ashman, a former director of Santa Fe's Museum of Fine Arts, recalled first meeting Hackman, who held a passion for painting outside of his film career, in the mid-1990s.
"When he talked to you, nothing else existed," Ashman said of the two-time Academy Award winner. "He was only interested in you, and he was very generous with his time, with his storytelling and also with his finances."
Related: Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's Estates Share Update on Couple's Surviving Dogs: 'Both Are Safe' and 'Healthy'
Another man whom ABC News identified as Gene and Betsy's friend, Stephan Marshall, described Betsy as "a lovely and charming woman." She and Gene first met in the late 1980s at a gym in California, where Betsy worked at the time, as the special reported. Gene and Betsy married in 1991; he shared three adult children — Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58 — with his first wife Faye Maltese, whom he was married to from 1956 to 1986. Maltese died in 2017 at 88.
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
"She had been with Gene since she was pretty young," Marshall said of Betsy, who was a classically trained pianist and skilled musician. "He was very proud of her accomplishments; she had played with the Honolulu Philharmonic Orchestra."
Related: Who Inherits Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy's Estate? Why It Matters Who Died First, According to a Legal Expert
ABC News' special features interviews with Santa Fe sheriff Adan Mendoza and reporters and journalists who covered Gene's career in addition to those who said they were friends with the actor and Betsy.
"That really struck home with me thinking about Betsy. I'm sure it just never occurred to anybody that she wouldn't outlast him," Marshall said, regarding officials' belief that Betsy died on Feb. 12, one week before her husband's death.
A medical examiner found that the acting legend died from heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer's after Betsy died from hantavirus, a virus spread by rodents.
Gene died at 95, while Betsy was 65 at the time of her death.
ABC News' Last Days of Gene Hackman special airs Tuesday, March 18
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
SPIN MASTER ENTERTAINMENT GREENLIGHTS ITS FIRST ORIGINAL FILM DIRECTED BY RENOWNED FAMILY FILMMAKER DAVID SOREN
The production expands the studio's family animated slate TORONTO, Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY) ( a leading global children's entertainment company, announced today it has greenlit an animated, four-quadrant film directed by BAFTA and Annie Award nominee David Soren. This is the first original film by Spin Master's entertainment studio, signifying a major milestone for the company behind some of the world's most popular kids' television series. "The announcement of this original film showcases our ambition to expand our foothold in the family animated theatrical business," said Jennifer Dodge, President of Spin Master Entertainment. "As we broaden our content portfolio, we're partnering with leaders in the industry to tell original, engaging stories, while also leveraging our established catalogue of IP. With David's well-earned reputation in family entertainment, we believe this feature film will inspire and entertain audiences around the globe." The film is written by Ian Southwood, based on a story by veteran animation creator Chris Dicker. Spin Master's Jennifer Dodge, Laura Clunie, and Toni Stevens, previously at the helm for the studio's powerhouse PAW Patrol® theatricals, are producing the film. Spin Master is financing the production with plans for a 2029 release. Soren directed and co-wrote Turbo, the BAFTA Award-nominated DreamWorks Animation feature film starring Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as directing Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, starring Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll, and Jordan Peele. He also directed and co-wrote Under the Boardwalk, starring Keke Palmer, Michael Cera, and Bobby Cannavale; served as Story Artist and Head of Story on hit films including Academy Award winner Shrek, Shark Tale, Chicken Run, and Over the Hedge; and was a key contributor on the Madagascar franchise. Southwood is known for contributing to the script of Netflix's Nimona, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Film. Prior to his work with Spin Master, he served as a screenwriter for DreamWorks Animation, before which he was with Blue Sky Studios, the 20th Century Animation company behind the Ice Age franchise. Dicker, an award-winning creator from Ireland, has had an illustrious career of 25 years in the kids and family space. He creates original IP across many mediums. This original story is his first to come to life on the big screen. This project adds to Spin Master's ever-expanding content universe further establishing its position at the forefront of family storytelling for global audiences. Among the company's upcoming films is PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie™, set for theatrical release on July 24, 2026. The third film in the hit franchise is based on one of the most popular children's television series, featuring a star-studded cast including EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, Emmy nominee Mckenna Grace, and Fortune Feimster. Spin Master is also in active development on a live-action Bakugan® film to be directed by blockbuster filmmaker Brad Peyton, based on the global phenomenon toy line that has generated over $1 billion in sales since its launch. Spin Master's vision is to deliver world-class content across genres and generations with captivating storytelling and engaging characters for screens of all sizes. Soren is represented by Verve and WME Books. Southwood is represented by Culture Creative, Adrian Garcia at Recon Literary, and Emily Downs at Meyer & Downs, LLP. About Spin MasterSpin Master Corp. (TSX:TOY) is a leading global children's entertainment company, creating exceptional play experiences across its three creative centres: Toys, Entertainment and Digital Games. With worldwide toy distribution, Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands including PAW Patrol®, Melissa & Doug®, Bakugan® and Rubik's® Cube, and is the global toy licensee for other iconic properties. Through its in-house entertainment studio, the company creates and produces captivating multiplatform content including powerhouse preschool franchise PAW Patrol, along with other original shows, short-form series and feature films. With an established presence in digital games anchored by Toca Boca® and Piknik™, Spin Master engages close to 60 million active users monthly in open-ended, creative and safe play. With 29 offices spanning nearly 20 countries, Spin Master employs more than 2,500 team members globally. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Spin Master Corp. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
7 hours ago
Aubrey Plaza breaks silence on late husband's death, opens up about grief
Aubrey Plaza is opening up about her grief following the death of her late husband Jeff Baena earlier this year. Plaza touched on the topic during a recent appearance on her former "Parks and Recreation" co-star Amy Poehler's podcast. "I think, like, I'm OK. But you know, it's like a daily struggle," Plaza told Poehler. Baena, a film director and screenwriter, died in January at the age of 47. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed Baena's death to ABC News at the time and said Baena had died of suicide. Plaza told Poehler that she felt "happy" to be recording the podcast together and was "grateful" to be alive. "Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you," said Plaza. "I feel, overall, I'm here and I'm functioning -- and I feel, you know, like I feel really grateful to be moving through the world." The 41-year-old also compared grief and loss to the 2025 thriller "The Gorge," which starred Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy as two operatives who get sent to guard opposite sides of a mysterious gorge. "In the movie ... there's a cliff on one side, and then there's a cliff on the other side, and then there's [a] gorge in between, and it's filled with all these, like, monster people that are trying to get them," Plaza explained. "I swear, when I watched it, I was like, 'That feels like what my grief is like' … or what grief could be like, where it's like, at all times, there's a giant ocean of just awfulness that's, like, right there, and I can see it. And like, sometimes, I just want to just dive into it and just be in it. And then sometimes, I just look at it. And then sometimes, I'm like, I just try to get away from it, but it's always there. It's just always there, and the monster people are trying to get me, like Miles [Teller's character]." If you are or someone you know is experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255 [TALK].
8 hours ago
Ariana DeBose says mom Gina Michelle DeBose has died of complications from ovarian cancer at 57
Ariana DeBose's mother Gina Michelle DeBose died Sunday morning "due to complications with stage 3 ovarian cancer," the actress and singer said this week. The "West Side Story" and "Love Hurts" star took to Instagram on Tuesday, posting a carousel of photos and a touching tribute to her "gorgeous, hilarious, outspoken, warrior queen Mother." "I couldn't be more proud of her and how she fought this insidious disease over the past 3 years. She was 57 years young," DeBose wrote in the caption. "She was my favorite person, my biggest fan and toughest critic. My best friend. She was my date to every important moment in my professional and personal life - and I wouldn't have it any other way," the post continued. "It had always been the two of us for as long as I can remember." DeBose said her mom "fought like hell to give me a good life, a good education and every opportunity in the world. I wouldn't be where I am without her." The Academy Award winner recalled a moment from her 2022 Oscars acceptance speech -- delivered after winning the award for best supporting actress for her role as Anita in "West Side Story" -- writing, "I meant it when I said my Oscar 'is just as much hers as it is mine.'" DeBose also highlighted her mom's purpose in life, to educate young people. "She passed just shy of delivering 30 years of service as a public school teacher," she wrote. "She was beloved and incredibly respected by her colleagues and students alike. The greatest advocate for the underdog, a believer in arts education and the smartest person I know - with a willingness to speak her mind regardless of the consequences." She added that her "greatest and most proud achievement will always be to have made her proud." In one of the carousel photos, DeBose left a detailed note outlining where people could donate in her mother's memory. "Details for a celebration of her life will be made available in the coming weeks," the note read. "At this time, I ask that my family's privacy be respected." A representative for DeBose did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. What to know about ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is the second-most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the agency, the disease "causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system." While most women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer are not at high risk, according to the CDC, there are many factors that could potentially increase a woman's risk for ovarian cancer, including a family history of the disease; a genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, "or one associated with Lynch syndrome"; a history of breast, uterine or colon cancer; or a diagnosis of endometriosis, described by the CDC as a condition where tissue from the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body. Those who are middle-aged or older, people with an Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish background, or those who have never given birth or who have had issues getting pregnant may also be at increased risk for ovarian cancer. Symptoms can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, bloating, a change in bowel habits, or "feeling full too quickly, or difficulty eating." Knowing risk factors is imperative as the Pap test does not screen for ovarian cancer, and the CDC says "there is no reliable way to screen for ovarian cancer in women who do not have any symptoms."
