Santa Fe, nm – Gene Hackman’s A friend, Stuart Ashman, wants to remain closer to the actor before his mysterious death, but will always have dear memories and a precious picture of the late actor.
“Obviously he was 95, so he slowed down,” Ashman told Fox News Digital. “And after Coida, he was more terrible, protecting his immune system and everything else.”
He continued, “I am really confused by the whole thing. You know, there is a lot of different reports. It’s somehow a tragic mystery. And I can’t really speculate on what it could be. Surely nothing dark there. I think it was complex the fact that they were two of them and a dog. But I don’t know outside of it.”
Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home last Wednesday. Authorities said the couple were dead for a few days when they were discovered, but they did not let the cause of death.
A friend of Gene Hackman, Stuart Ashman, told Fox News Digital that the actor “slowed down” and that he was “more” in the last few years “before his mysterious death. (Ron Galella, Ltd.)
Daniel and Barbara Lenihan and their son, Aaron, have also recently talked People magazine About Hackman and Arakawa, saying that Hackman was “essentially a kind of home” in recent times “and” stop riding a bike through the neighborhood “.
Aaron said the socket: “Betsy tried to maintain it somehow active and engaged,” adding that Hackman did puzzles and yoga via Zoom Daily.
“She was still trying to maintain him as active as possible and engaged and healthy,” Aaron said.
Daniel and Barbara also said that in the last few months “Hackman” has really slid there. “
Friends of the married couple, Daniel and Barbara Lenihan and son Aaron, told People magazine that Hackman was in a “recent time” basically kind of home type. “ (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
The family also recalled that Arakawa was “very protective of him in terms of covid, so she would always wear a mask if we saw her.”
“They looked like Real life partnersReally, really close to each other, and both were incredibly kind. And were reserved, but they were real [and] A lot of fun, “Aaron People said.
The Lenihan family said the couple “looked like real life partners.” (Urschke/Ullstein Bild via Getty Images)
The last time Ashman and Hackman spoke were before Pandemia Coid-19, and the gap in the conversation is the one he regrets.
“It was before Coid, and it reminded me when I was a kid. My father had a friend he was not in contact with, and we visited him. And then he was dead for a few days. And my father regretted not calling him. And I feel the same way, “he said.
Stuart Ashman met Hackman in the late 90s, and the two tied up to Pilates, their military service and more. (Derek shook for Fox News Digital/Getty Images)
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“You don’t think about it, but your friend is there, and you think they are fine. I mean, the last time I thought I was talking to him … He had a place he hired in Florida Keys for the winter, you know, a few winter months anyway. And he went there. So that is the last time I talked there when he went there.”
Hackman and Ashman met in the late 90s when they served on the committee Together at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and they further connected through a common teacher of Pilates.
“Obviously he was 95, so he slowed down. And after Coida, he was more fear by protecting his immune system and everything else.”
“He was a class after me, and it was a class one to one, and we would sit and talk long enough for the teacher to say, ‘Gene, will you attend a lecture today or will you just talk to Stuart? “And that’s really how it was.
Ashman, co -owner of the Artes de Cuba Gallery and former Cultural Secretary -General for New Mexico, also has a small farm with chickens. He would regularly deliver a dozen eggs hackman.
Ashman said that he and Hackman would talk so much out of the pilates lecture that the teacher had to interrupt. (Bravo/Everett collection)
“One day he brought me a picture and I said,” You can’t give me this picture. “He says,” Yes, you have given me eggs for months. “So I traded the egg pictures, which is pretty nice.
Ashman shared that Hackman was active in the community, explaining that he had “invested in many other companies in Santa Fe”.
Ashman will always appreciate the painter painter Hackman donated him in exchange for regular egg delivery. (The kindness of Stuart Ashman)
“I knew people that he really supported companies, if he liked someone, he would get involved in their job. And I don’t think it was a matter for him. That really needed to help people.”
Hackman was also often Viewed exercise And he was “in great form” even in advanced age.
Hackman is often seen exercising in the Santa Fe area. (Ron Davis/Getty Images)
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“He was very fitYou know, and he was 6 feet 2 plus a former marine. He worked Pilates as three times a week. And then in the days where he did not make Pilates, he would fill the bike to his SUVs, he drove to Albuquerque, which is 70 miles, and drove this path down, which was paved by the river. So, he didn’t want to do mountain biking, but he did. So he was in excellent shape, “Ashman said.
His favorite memories of Hackman remain their conversations on the Pilates class, joking that sometimes their conversations will be a “guy thing” and the second time they would talk about politics, including Ashman’s childhood in Cuba, where Hackman spent some time.
They also related to joint military service.
According to Ashman, Hackman was active in the Santa Fe community, as well as physically active and fit. (New Century Distribution/Everett Collection)
“He was a marine, and I’m a naval reserve. So we had good jokes about those days. I mean, it was a different time. I mean, he’s older than me. So I don’t know if he was involved in any fight or something, but I certainly didn’t be that.”
Look: a friend of Gene Hackman recalls the physical fitness of the winner Oscar
Hackman also shared a fun lust piece of trivia about one of his most famous films, “French connection.”
Ashman went to a high school high school where a well -known car persecution in a movie was filmed, which houses several real -life falls and near failures.
Hackman shared the story of the filming of “French Connection” with Ashman, related to the famous Chase Chase movie scene. (Photo collection of silver screen)
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“He told me this story, after years after the movie, this guy he ran into New York said,” Hey, man, you don’t know what you did for me. You saved my life, I owe you. “And he said,” What are you talking about? “He says,” When you were shooting a French relationship, “they closed all the streets.
He added, “In those days you could buy a new Chevy for $ 4,500. So that was a big deal.”
