The private world of legendary actor Gene Hackman is being unveiled in an unprecedented auction by Bonhams, revealing a trove of over 400 items that showcase his dual life as a Hollywood icon and a dedicated visual artist.
From Hannibal Lecter to the Easel: Hackman's Untold Stories
Following his death earlier this year at 95, the Gene Hackman Collection: A Life in Art offers a poignant glimpse into the Oscar-winner's personal and professional journey. Among the most startling discoveries is a 33-page draft script for The Silence of the Lambs, revealing Hackman initially purchased a share of the film rights with ambitions to both direct and star as Hannibal Lecter.
Anna Hicks, head of private and iconic collections at Bonhams, explained the project's abrupt end. "Within his own circle people were like, 'This is too creepy, don't do it.'" The actor reportedly abandoned the venture after his daughter expressed strong objections to the dark material. The film would later achieve monumental success under Jonathan Demme with Anthony Hopkins in the role Hackman had envisioned for himself.
The Santa Fe Sanctuary: Hackman's Artistic Renaissance
After retiring from acting in 2004, Hackman retreated from Hollywood to a secluded life in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he immersed himself in painting, writing novels, and art collection. The auction features more than 70 of his original artworks, surprising even those familiar with his film career.
"He was quite a private person and it comes as a surprise to a lot of people," Hicks noted. "The first thing everyone says is: This whole wall? He did all of this? When did he have the time?"
Hackman's artistic output includes seascapes, still lifes, and copies of masterworks by Henri Matisse and Vincent van Gogh. His particular talent for portraiture shines through, though notably absent are depictions of his Hollywood colleagues. Instead, he focused on anonymous subjects, creating a clear separation between his public and private lives.
A Collection of Surprises and Masterpieces
The sale encompasses far more than artwork. Collectors can acquire annotated scripts, call sheets, and behind-the-scenes photos from classic films including Mississippi Burning, Unforgiven, and Bonnie and Clyde. Golden Globe trophies and the Cecil B DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award complete with handwritten acceptance speech are also available, though Oscars are notably absent due to the Academy's resale restrictions.
Among the most personal items is a 14-inch bronze bust of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist who was married to Hackman for over thirty years. The original signed plaster cast accompanies the lot.
The auction also features Hackman's sophisticated art collection, highlighted by Milton Avery's Figure on the Jetty, expected to fetch between $500,000 and $700,000. Other significant works include Richard Diebenkorn's Green, 1986 and a monumental bronze by Auguste Rodin.
Structured across a live auction in New York on November 19th and two online sales, the collection offers something for every budget, from his personal Winmau dart board starting at $100 to multi-million dollar fine art masterpieces.
This expansive sale not only celebrates Hackman's celebrated film career but finally brings to light the depth of his artistic passion that flourished away from the camera's glare.
