LORRAINE Kelly has paid an emotional tribute to a legendary actor following his death.
Oscar winner Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico yesterday.
Gene Hackman and his wife have been found dead[/caption]
Cops have said there are no signs of foul play[/caption]
Lorraine remembered the icon on Good Morning Britain this morning[/caption]
The body of their pet dog was also discovered.
Cops have said there are no signs of foul play, per the Santa Fe New Mexican.
On today’s instalment of Good Morning Britain, Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley shared the devastating news with viewers.
Lorraine remembered the “amazing” actor following the tragic announcement.
She said: “When you think of the movies he’s been in, The French Connection – I think everyone remembers that.
“I had no idea he was 95, that’s just really sad.
“He was an absolute icon and he was so funny in The Birdcage.
“He could do drama, he could do comedy, he could do absolutely everything.
“We’ve got the movies to remember him by, it’s just really sad.”
Hackman, born in California in 1930, was best known for playing Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection for which he won the Best Actor Oscar in 1972.
He also played Lex Luthor in the Superman movies in the 1970s and 1980s, and Missippi Burning in 1988.
In 1993, Hackman scooped the gong in the Best Supporting Actor award category for his role in Unforgiven.
The Hollywood legend also starred in hit movies Runaway Jury, The Royal Tenenbaums and the Conversation.
