Gene Hackman was remembered Thursday as a great artist, an acting giant who inspired other actors with his work, as the entertainment world mourned his death. “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor,

In 2004, legendary actor Gene Hackman essentially disappeared off the face of the earth. Hackman and his retired classical pianist wife Betsy Arakawa made their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico full time after Hackman left Hollywood for good two decades ago.