Gene Hackman, the iconic Hollywood star, sadly passed away this week at the age of 95 in his home in Santa Fe, with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, by his side. Hackman, who is widely recognized for his memorable performance as Buck in Bonnie and Clyde, had been happily married to Arakawa since 1991, living a serene life with the talented Hawaiian classical pianist. In contrast, his first marriage to Faye Maltese, a bank clerk, faced more difficulties, largely due to Hackman's rapid rise to stardom. He and Maltese had three children together: Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne Hackman.

Hackman's first marriage fell apart because of Hollywood?

Hackman had a packed schedule while trying to make a name for himself, which meant he was often away, putting a strain on his relationships. He ended up divorcing Maltese in 1986. They first met back in 1955 when Gene was just 25 and far from famous.

As reported by New York Times Magazine in 1989, they bumped into each other at a Y.M.C.A. dance in New York City, where Hackman met the "pretty and dark-haired" secretary from Rockefeller Center. Their early days as a family were tough; they lived in a "cold water walk-up," meaning there was no hot water, according to DailyMail.

However, the actor admitted to the outlet that as he found success in theater, Broadway, and film, he became “selfish.” He explained, “You spend so many years desperately wanting to be recognized for your talent, and when those roles start coming in, it’s hard to say no to anything.” Hackman continued, “Even with a family, I took jobs that kept us apart for three or four months. The allure of money and fame was too much for the kid in me. I just couldn’t handle it.”

Hackman became distant from his kids

In a 2011 chat with GQ, he opened up about how his big dreams created a gap between him and his kids. When asked what wisdom he wanted to share with them, he reflected, “I really lost connection with my son when it came to giving advice early on. I think it was because I was away a lot, filming on location when he was at a stage where he really needed my support. It was hard to be away for three months and then come back and try to take charge.”

Read Also: Gene Hackman's Reluctance to Revisit His Iconic Roles 

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