Gene Hackman
Flowers, Notes Left at Santa Fe Joint Actor Loved …
Amazing Artwork Inside Cataloged
Published
Gene Hackman shockingly does not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for fans to grieve their loss … but there is a restaurant in New Mexico where some are paying their respects to the legend.
Doug Lanham, a close friend and former business partner, tells TMZ … fans have begun dropping off notes and flowers to his Santa Fe restaurant Jinja Bar & Bistro … which was co-owned by Hackman for several years after he walked away from Hollywood a two-time Oscar winner and film icon.
Fox News Digital
In addition to being regarded as one of the best actors to ever grace the silver screen … Hackman was also a prolific painter — and did nearly all the amazing work that hangs from Jinja’s walls.
Doug tells us all the art is currently being cataloged … and there is no way in hell it will ever be sold.
It’s not clear why Hackman doesn’t have a star on the Walk of Fame … but it’s a good bet he was approached for one and declined, which isn’t completely unheard of for some celebs.
As we previously reported … despite leaving the restaurant industry, Doug says Gene would often come by for a meal — and usually pick up the tab for customers.
Doug remembers Gene as a jokester who would play silly little tricks on him … like putting his finger to Doug’s back and telling him to “reach for the stars” — pretty hilarious given Gene won an Oscar for the western flick, “Unforgiven.”
Santa Fe County Sheriff
Gene and his wife Betsy were found dead in their home Wednesday — and an investigation into just what happened is ongoing. Santa Fe authorities said on Friday Gene’s pacemaker showed its last event was on February 17 … making investigators believe that’s when he died.
TMZ.com
Gene was 95 … Betsy was 65.
RIP