# Gene Hackman focused on staying fit before Alzheimer's with boxing, golf: friends

Oscar-winner also did yoga, flew planes, was generous artist

## By , 

Published March 11, 2025 4:00am EDT



Gene Hackman was "bothered" by aging, according to a former friend and FBI agent, Stephen Marshall.



## GENE HACKMAN DEATH: COMPLETE COVERAGE



Gene Hackman appeared in a classic film scene from Mississippi Burning before his death in 2025.

## GENE HACKMAN DEATH TIMELINE: ACTOR'S FINAL DAYS WITH WIFE



Family friends Daniel and Barbara Lenihan and their son, Aaron, told People magazine that Gene had been "essentially kind of home-bound."

## GENE HACKMAN'S FINAL YEARS IN SANTA FE WITH WIFE WERE INCREASINGLY SECLUSION



Andy Wells, a retired military pilot and flight instructor, first met the couple in 1987 and worked with Gene to get his pilot’s license up to date and train Betsy in flying, partially as a backup in case of emergencies.

## GENE HACKMAN'S 911 CALLER DISTRAUGHT OVER COUPLE'S MYSTERIOUS DEATH, SAYS THEY TREATED PEOPLE 'LIKE GOLD'



One of Gene's many physical activities was Pilates, which he and friend Stuart Ashman bonded through.

## GENE HACKMAN’S FRIENDS SAY HE WAS ‘SLOWING DOWN’ AND ‘RECLUSIVE’ AHEAD OF MYSTERIOUS DEATH



Ivan Valdez, the owner of The Reel Life, told Fox News Digital that Betsy called his shop eight years ago and got everything set up for Gene and Jack Del Rio to go up to the Pecos Wilderness for a relaxing day.

## GENE HACKMAN’S CO-STAR, GARY SINISE, SAYS STAR WAS LIVING ‘QUIET LIFE’ OUTSIDE HOLLYWOOD BEFORE MYSTERIOUS DEATH



Jim Van Der Beek was forced to look ‘mortality in the eye’ as he leaned on faith during 'hardest' year of cancer.

## GENE HACKMAN’S FRIENDS SAY HE WAS ‘SLOWING DOWN’ AND ‘RECLUSIVE’ AHEAD OF MYSTERIOUS DEATH

## Fox News Digital's Tracy Wright, Lauryn Overhultz, Janelle Ash, and Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

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