Veteran actor Gene Hackman has died aged 95, having retired from movies two decades ago and turned his hand to co-writing three historical fiction novels. Renowned for The French Connection, Unforgiven, Mississippi Burning, Superman, A Bridge Too Far, Enemy of the State, amongst many others he was prolific over an award-strewn, four decade career on screen.
He was born January 30, 1930 7.45 am San Bernadino, California, and had ambitions to be an actor at a young age though he volunteered for the Marines aged 16 and became a field radio operator in China, Hawaii and Japan.
He struggled initially as an actor along with Dustin Hoffman, acting on stage and in bit parts but broke into the big time when he was in his forties with the French Connection after which he never looked back.
He had a New Moon and Venus in Aquarius in his reclusive and creative 12th house with Jupiter on his IC so he would be content to relax at home in between movies. His ambitious Mars in Capricorn in a sharp-spoken conjunction to Mercury sat on the cusp of his 12th house and was in an ultra-determined opposition to an attention-commanding Pluto in his performing 5th house. His Saturn in Capricorn was in his not-altogether friendly 11th house reinforcing his image as not light hearted or sociable. His Saturn was in a can-be irritable and/or autocratic square to Uranus.
He also had an Earth Grand Trine of Saturn trine North Node in Taurus trine Neptune in Virgo in his 7th house.
An interesting, intensely talented man if not always easy within himself or with others.
His actors 15th harmonic was powerfully confident, though strained. His leaving-a-legacy 17H was lucky and adventurous. And his global superstar 22H was explosive and intense, reflecting the characters he played.
He appears to have been found along with his second wife of twenty five years, former classical pianist Betty Arakawa. She was born 1 December 1961 and was a lively Sun Mars in Sagittarius though that made an intense square onto Pluto and her Mercury in Sagittarius was square Uranus. She had Jupiter in Aquarius which would sit well with his New Moon and Venus and his Jupiter IC. Though her Saturn conjunct his Mars would be scratchy and her Uranus in his 7th conjunct his Neptune hinted at an unconventional bond. His Mars Pluto would be fairly dominating and her Mars Pluto was used to being submissive (mainly).
Their relationship chart had a passionately enthusiastic composite Sun, Mars, Venus conjunction squaring Jupiter opposition Neptune – Jupiter to bring mutual support and confidence; Jupiter Neptune for optimism and Neptune for ideals and illusions. There was also a composite yod of Pluto sextile Uranus inconjunct Saturn which would require maturity to make it work.
It is not clear in what circumstances she died though police say there are no indications at this stage of foul play.
One of the best, he had a brooding masculinity you just do not see anymore in the newer actors. I wished he didn’t retire so ‘early’ when he did but with those 12th house planets and the fact he was in his early 70’s when he did, I don’t begrudge him. It took several hours to identify them, with the dog too and that he was a recluse I suspect gas leak as others have said. So very sad, he had a good innings but his wife was still young in comparison. I see no obvious Neptune contacts though.
So true Marie. That brooding masculinity is just SO Aquarius: Tom Selleck, Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, James Dean, Rutger Hauer, Lloyd Cole, Christian Bale, Oliver Reed…
One Water planet in the 5th (creative, arts, etc.). I wonder if it was compensationg/over expressing for the general lack of water.
He does not have a mutable chart either. But he does have a stellium in the 12th house, which is seen as both Piscean in flavour and allowing an ability to tap into collective consciousness. Add in the Aquarian stellium which would fit the unusual nature of his job and an ability to analyse a role intellectually, I think it fits, he also trained as a journalist.
He was a method actor, and although Neptune /ASC is the more usual signifier for actors he does have it on the DEC, allowing him to to disappear into a role from the point of view of those watching him.
Very sad RIP to both him and his wife. I share the same birthdate as him, but am not as successful.
Just watched “Get Shorty” the other day. He was priceless as Harry Zimm, proudly reciting his movie-making accomplishments, including “Slime Creatures” and “Grotesque”. Great actor in everything he did. I always knew he was an Aquarian, never seen his chart before. Thanks, Marjorie.
Their dog also found dead at scene…..strange that the 3 would die on the
same day.
Possibly gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning.
From BBC…”Death of Hackman and wife ‘suspicious enough’ for investigation, police say”
“Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife appeared to have been dead for “quite a while…”
“https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewkkkvkzn9o”
My favourite Gene Hackman film is ‘The Conversation’. i’ve seen it countless times. The way he portrays a lonely middle-aged man’s descent into full blown obsession and paranoia is so searingly accurate if you or someone close to you have ever suffered similarly. The ending of that film is a metaphor for how obsession unleashed can destroy everything around you. He was a real favourite of mine. I liked him too because he didn’t fit the convention for actors to be handsome. In fact, he had a far more interesting face and physicality.
(wish you had a like option Marjorie). I love Gene Hackman too :)))
Thank you for this Marjorie. Gene Hackman is my favourite and most admired actor. The Conversation, a film that’s rarely mentioned, is also one of his best but I remember him most for a quiet scene in The Firm with Tom Cruise which is often cut on reruns, where he explains how you slide into corruption. So poignant, so regretful but clear minded about what it meant and what it had given him. Very moving, very true. No astrology, sorry, but our suns and venus are both aquarius. Does that count?
Funny, that scene in The Firm is what I thought of first as well. The whole sequence with Jeanne Tripplehorn was poignant, so it made sense she would just feel sorry for him.
@Zita, that scene in “The Firm” is revered at this household. It came out the wrong year for the Oscars – the competition was stiff -, but I never understand Hackman as well as the writers missing nomination all together.