Gene Hackman, a Hollywood giant and two-time Oscar winner, was found dead along with his wife and dog in their New Mexico home Wednesday, though investigators believe they may have been dead for some time and the cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Murray worked with Hackman on director Wes Anderson’s 2001 film “The Royal Tennenbaums.” Hackman gave young directors such as Anderson a hard time but brought skill to the set, Murray said.
Hackman's performance as an obsessed and amoral cop in the 1971 film “The French Connection" earned an Oscar for best actor in a leading role and was considered one of his defining roles.
Hackman, 95, was a prolific actor who performed as an array of heroes and villains in films including “The French Connection,” “Hoosiers” and “Superman" from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.
In a 911 call, the maintenance worker said he could see Hackman's wife, 63-year-old Betsy Arakawa, laying on the floor through a window but he was unable to get inside.
