That Time Oscar Winning Legend Gene Hackman Visited Owensboro

I know there are those who roll their eyes when they hear someone say, "Everything happens for a reason." I prefer, "Many things happen for a reason." It's why I have few regrets. The ones I do have, however? Doozies.

Gene Hackman Dead at 95

I've always said I would consider it a sad, sad day when Gene Hackman passed away. That day has come. It was the first piece of news that greeted me this morning--Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa found dead along with one of their dogs in their Santa Fe NM home. The two-time Oscar winning legend--my all-time favorite actor--was 95 and had been retired for more than 20 years, was in his mid-90s, and nobody lives forever. But when your idols pass, it stings, regardless. I wanted to share one of his great scenes (there are plenty to choose from) and found this one from the magnificent and harrowing Mississippi Burning:

Why Gene Hackman Spent Time in Owensboro

As for regrets that I mentioned earlier? This is a big one. Back in the 2000s and into the early 2010s, the RiverPark Center in Owensboro hosted multiple International Mystery Writers Festivals. Hackman, already a published author (1999's Wake of the Perdido Star), and co-author Daniel Lenihan appeared at the June 2008 festival to promote their book Escape From Andersonville: a Novel of the Civil War which had just been released the previous month.

With social media in its infancy, I didn't have the luxury of event invitations and reminders and arrived at the RiverPark Center too late to pick up a copy and get it signed. Hey, I would have been happy just to see him and know I was in the same room with him. I could have kicked myself. I STILL could.

But the best part of this very sad day is that Gene Hackman's films will always be there for the viewing. I'd list my favorites but it would take too long. Even in subpar movies, he was always good.

I never need a reason to watch Gene Hackman movies, but, sadly, I now have one.