Now, following the shock news that Gene, 95, has been found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, in their New Mexico home, we take a look back as his life as a father.
HOLLYWOOD icon Gene Hackman was poised for A-list success when he became a father to three children.
But with his career about to take off, Oscar winner Gene later admitted that his relationship with his children had suffered.
Gene even admitted that his relationship with his eldest child, son Christopher, suffered to the point where they "lost touch".
In 2011, Gene said in an interview with GQ: "You spend so many years wanting desperately to be recognised as having the talent and then when you're starting to be offered these parts, it's very tough to turn anything down.
