Who was Gene Hackman’s brother Richard Hackman? What we know about Superman stuntman as nephew speaks out

The world-renowned American actor Gene Hackman has had great success as an actor, yet very little is known about his family and his brother Richard Hackman.

Gene Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California, to Lyda Hackman (née Gray) and Eugene Ezra Hackman. According to Geneastar, he was raised with his brother, Richard. The brothers were of Pennsylvania Dutch (German), English, and Scottish descent.

Richard Hackman has worked as a stuntman in movies such as Superman in 1978 and Night Moves in 1975. According to The Movie DB, he acted alongside his brother in The Conversation as the Confessional Priest and in Scarecrow as Mickey.

Other than his small appearances and works with his brother, Richard has not gained any major achievements in the world of filmmaking. There is not much information available online about his private life and family. Richard has also not released any statement regarding Gene and his wife’s recent death.

On the other hand, Leslie Anne Hackman and Elizabeth Jean Hackman, the two daughters of Gene Hackman and Tim Hackman, his nephew, have broken their silence in the wake of the mysterious deaths.

The legendary 95-year-old actor and his 64-year-old wife were discovered dead in different rooms of their Santa Fe, New Mexico residence. The grim discovery was made by a neighbor who then contacted emergency services. In addition to the couple, one of their three dogs was discovered dead, while the other two survived.

More about Gene Hackman's daughter and nephew's response

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail, Leslie said she was shocked and saddened by the sudden death. She said that although her father was 95 years old, he had been in good health. She said that Hackman was fit, doing Pilates and yoga several times a week.

He had not had any major surgeries in the last few months, making the circumstances surrounding his and Betsy’s deaths all the more puzzling.

Gene Hackman’s nephew, Tim Hackman, also took to social media to react to the news. He said that Leslie was the first family member to tell him about the deaths. He said he hadn't met Hackman for more than a decade but described him as someone who liked a quiet, reclusive life.

According to many reports and online speculations, a carbon monoxide leak might have been a factor, although the family has yet to receive confirmation of that from authorities. Leslie said she had spoken to her father not long ago and that he had not shown any signs of problem.