Gene Hackman, 94, treats himself to an apple pie and a cup of coffee as he enjoys a rare outing at a New Mexico gas station – as the reclusive actor marks 20 years since his last on-screen role

Reclusive actor Gene Hackman was enjoying an afternoon pick-me-up when he stopped by a local gas station in New Mexico to pick up an apple pie and a cup of coffee — just days after hitting the road for the first time with his 62-year-old wife. photo was taken. two decades.

The 94-year-old screen legend, who hasn’t starred in a movie in 20 years, was seen making his way out of a 7-Eleven, with his treats in his hands.

Superman star Gene’s latest appearance comes just two weeks after he made headlines around the world when he was spotted on an incredibly rare outing with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as the pair enjoyed a date night at a restaurant in Santa Fe.

Images from their date showed Gene wearing cargo pants, a plaid shirt, a gray zip-up vest and a pair of black sneakers, while holding a black cane in one hand.

For his latest appearance, the actor — who has almost completely retreated from the spotlight in the years since his last on-screen appearance — donned a similarly casual ensemble, though he went without a cane.

He was perfectly dressed for a casual day out, wearing a gray fleece sweater over a casual dark blue checked shirt, charcoal sweatpants and black sneakers.

His outfit was completed with a khaki baseball cap, while his gray hair was tucked behind his ear under the headgear, and he wore his facial hair in a neat mustache.

The legendary actor wore a similar outfit when he grabbed a bite to eat with his wife, who wore a floral blouse and dark jeans.

After grabbing an apple pie and coffee, Gene walked back to his car.

The couple’s outing last month marked the first time they have been seen together in public in 21 years, the last time being at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards, where he won the Cecil B. deMille Award.

It was also a rare sighting of the star itself. Gene’s last film role was in 2004 alongside Ray Romano and Christine Baranski in the hit comedy Welcome To Mooseport.

Later that same year, Gene gave a rare interview to Larry King, in which he announced that he had no new film projects planned and believed his acting career was over.

Years later, he confirmed his retirement while promoting his third novel, Escape From Andersonville, in 2008.

He told Reuters at the time: “I haven’t held a press conference to announce my retirement, but yes, I will no longer be performing.”

“I’ve been told over the years not to say that, in case something really great comes along, but I really don’t want to do it anymore.”

He also explained his passion for writing novels, saying, “I actually like the solitude of it. It’s like acting in some ways, but it’s more private and I feel like I have more control over what I’m trying to say and do.”

‘There is always a compromise between acting and film, you work with so many people and everyone has an opinion. … I don’t know if I like it more than acting, it’s just different. I find it relaxing and comforting.’

In 2011, he was asked by GQ if he would ever come out of retirement to make another film, to which Hackman replied, “If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and only one or two people . .’

He hasn’t stayed away from the industry entirely, however, as he has narrated two Marine Corps documentaries: The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima (2016) and We, The Marines (2017).

Hackman began his acting career nearly 70 years ago, joining the Pasadena Playhouse in 1956, where he befriended fellow aspiring actor Dustin Hoffman.

He eventually moved to New York in 1963 and began performing in several off-Broadway plays and smaller TV roles.

The stage actor really made a name for himself in the 1970s, when he was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for the 1970 film, I Never Sang For My Father.

The following year, he officially became a leading actor, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as New York City detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection.

He continued to work consistently, including in the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation (1974) before landing the role of supervillain Lex Luthor in 1978’s Superman: The Movie.

In the 1980s he appeared in several films, including Reds (1981), Under Fire (1983), Hoosiers (1986), No Way Out (1987) and Mississippi Burning (1988).

The 1990s brought him his second Oscar, when he earned the Best Supporting Actor award for his work as sadistic sheriff “Little” Bill Daggett opposite Clint Eastwood in 1992’s Unforgiven.

He rounded out that decade by also starring in Narrow Margin (1990), Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), The Firm (1993), The Chamber (1996), Wyatt Earp (1994), The Quick And The Dead (1995), Crimson Tide (1995), Get Shorty (1995), Absolute Power (1997), The Birdcage (1996) and Enemy Of The State (1998).

He remained active in the early 2000s with roles in Behind Enemy Lines (2001), Heist (2001), Runaway Jury (2003), and even earned the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy in 2001 for The Royal Tenenbaums.

In 1987, Gene Hackman divorced his first wife, Faye Maltese, after spending thirty years together and raising three children.

Five years later, he walked down the aisle with Arakawa, a retired classical pianist thirty years his junior.

While speaking to Empire in 2020, the retired actor revealed that he enjoyed watching DVDs that Arakawa rented.

“We like simple stories that some of the small, low-budget films manage to produce,” he said.

‘Friday evening is reserved for a Comedy Channel marathon, with a special focus on Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is astonishing.’