Gene Hackman, 82, 'hits homeless man across the face defending his wife Betsy'
Gene Hackman, 82, 'hits homeless man across the face whilst defending his wife Betsy who is threatened in C-word tirade'
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Incident: Gene Hackman has reportedly hit a homeless man who apparently threatened the actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa on Tuesday
Gene Hackman has reportedly hit a homeless man who apparently threatened the actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa on Tuesday.
The 82-year-old allegedly slapped a man called Bruce Becker across the face, after he approached the couple outside a restaurant in New Mexico where they had been dining, according to TMZ.
Becker went up to the pair as they were leaving the Sante Fe eatery.
Hackman then defend himself and his wife after Becker allegedly called Arakawa a 'c***'.
He reportedly struck the man across the face.
Following the incident Becker called the police to file a report.
After law enforcement arrived on the scene they questioned Hackman and Arakawa.
Police later determined the incident as self defence and no charges against the Unforgiven star were made.
Mailonline contacted Hackman's representatives but have yet to get a response.
Gene is one of Hollywood's most celebrated actors, and has won two Oscars and received a further three nominations.
He first rose to fame in 1967 with his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde.
However perhaps his most celebrated performances were as the tough detective Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in the French Connection films in 1971, for which he won a best actor Oscar, and 1975.
Gene made many more hard hitting dramatic appearances, such as best actor nominated turn in 1988's Mississippi Burning.
He was also famous for his ability to play lighter roles, such as his performance as camp evil genius Lex Luthor in the blockbuster Superman movies.
Lunch date gone awry: The 82-year-old allegedly slapped a man called Bruce Becker across the face, after he approached the couple outside a restaurant in New Mexico where they had been dining
He began his acting career in 1956 when he joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California.
There he met another aspiring actor, Dustin Hoffman, and the pair forged a lifelong friendship as they both became major stars of the silver screen.
He has been married twice, first to Faye Maltese in 1956.
Celebrated actor: Gene is best known for his roles in movie such as The Quick and the Dead
They had three children, Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie Anne, before divorcing in 1986 after 30 years of marriage.
In 1991, he married Arakawa and they live in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
In 2004 he gave a rare interview to Larry King and announced he had no future film projects lined up and believed his acting career is over.
In 2008 he confirmed that he had retired from acting while promoting his third novel.
However, he is rumoured to be narrating Martin Scorsese's upcoming new film The Wolf Of Wall Street, which stars Leonard DiCaprio.
Famous role: Perhaps his most celebrated performances were as the tough detective Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in the French Connection films in 1971
Rumoured return: Gene is rumoured to be narrating Martin Scorsese's upcoming new film The Wolf Of Wall Street, which stars Leonard DiCaprio
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