Multiple Major Awards Among Gene Hackman's Memorabilia To Be Auctioned
By Jason Hall
October 20, 2025
Legendary actor Gene Hackman's three Golden Globe awards will be among his "cinematic memorabilia" set to be sold by the New York City-based auction house Bonhams at an in-person sale on November 19.
Hackman, 95, reportedly listed his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, who was suspected to have died days before him in February, as his sole beneficiary and had a simultaneous death clause that would send the majority of their assets to charity if they died within 90 days of each other. The actor reportedly amassed a substantial collection of art, a passion that "intensified" following his retirement from acting in 2004.
“These are prestigious works with impeccable provenance, further enriched by their association with one of the greatest actors of our time. Hackman was not only a collector but an artist himself, and his approach to collecting mirrors the care, aesthetic sensibility, and discipline evident in his own artistic practice. This is a collection shaped with extraordinary thoughtfulness and passion,” said Andrew Huber, Bonhams Head of 20th & 21st Century Art, in a statement obtained by the New York Post.
The second wave, which will be an online-only auction held between November 8 and November 21, will include three of Hackman's four Golden Globe awards, which include his award for Best Actor -- Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for The Royal Tenenbaums won in 2002; Best Supporting Actor -- Motion Picture for Unforgiven won in 1993; and the honorary Cecil B. DeMille Award for "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment" received in 2003.
Hackman is suspected to have died at his New Mexico ranch on February 18, six days after Arakawa, who also served as his caretaker, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on February 12. Officials suspect that Hackman was unaware that Arakawa had died during his final days.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, and his wife were married for 34 years. Police reportedly found the couple at around 1:45 p.m. local time on February 26.
Hackman's legendary acting career spanned more than 60 years, providing an everyman believability to numerous iconic roles, including playing Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection (1971) and Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven (1992), which won him the Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. The California native was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for roles in Bonnie & Clyde (1968) and I Never Sang for My Father (1971), as well as Best Actor for Mississippi Burning (1989).
Hackman is also remembered for playing arch villain Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980), as well as Coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers (1986) and Royal Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) among numerous other iconic roles.