The Private Lives Of Gene Hackman's Children: Their Real Ages And What They Do Now

Gene Hackman, the legendary two-time Oscar winner, has lived a life of intense public scrutiny, yet his three adult children have successfully maintained a remarkable level of privacy. This has led to widespread confusion and viral misinformation, particularly regarding their current ages and even the actor's own status in late 2025. As Hackman's name continues to trend, often due to retirement rumors or even false reports of his passing, the curiosity about his family life—specifically the ages and lives of Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie—has surged. For the most accurate and current information as of December 2025, we delve into the lives of the Hackman children, who are the product of the iconic actor's first marriage to Faye Maltese. They are all well into their adult lives, pursuing careers far from the bright lights of Hollywood that defined their father's career in classics like *The French Connection* and *Unforgiven*.

Gene Hackman's Children: A Complete Family Profile

All three of Gene Hackman's children—Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie—were born during his 30-year marriage to his first wife, Faye Maltese. The couple was married from 1956 until their divorce in 1986. Following the divorce, Hackman married classical pianist Betsy Arakawa in 1991, with whom he has no children. The children have largely avoided the spotlight, making details about their personal and professional lives difficult to verify, but here is the most current information available.

• Mother: Faye Maltese (1928–2017)
• Stepmother: Betsy Arakawa (m. 1991)
• Total Children: 3
• Oldest Child: Christopher Allen Hackman (Age 65)
• Middle Child: Elizabeth Jean Hackman (Age 63)
• Youngest Child: Leslie Anne Hackman (Age 59)

1. Christopher Allen Hackman: The Computer Programmer and Aspiring Filmmaker (Age 65)

Christopher Allen Hackman is the eldest of the three children, born on September 2, 1960. As of December 2025, he is 65 years old.

Unlike his famous father, Christopher initially pursued a career in technology. He is known to have worked as a computer programmer, writing software programs.

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However, the artistic gene appears to have been passed down. Christopher has also been described as an aspiring filmmaker, hinting at a desire to follow in his father's footsteps, albeit behind the camera.

Some reports also suggest Christopher studied Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California, further illustrating a diverse and creative background outside of the traditional Hollywood machine.

2. Elizabeth Jean Hackman: The Most Private Daughter (Age 63)

Elizabeth Jean Hackman is the middle child, born in August 1962, making her 63 years old as of December 2025.

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Of all the Hackman children, Elizabeth has maintained the lowest public profile. Very little is known about her specific career path, a testament to the family's dedication to privacy.

She was, however, briefly mentioned in the media when she was cited as commenting on her father's health, confirming that he was in good health despite a wave of misinformation. This rare public statement underscores her commitment to her father's well-being.

Her life is a clear example of choosing anonymity over celebrity, a path many children of major Hollywood stars often seek.

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3. Leslie Anne Hackman: The Youngest and Misidentified (Age 59)

Leslie Anne Hackman is the youngest child, born in October 1966, and is 59 years old as of December 2025.

Like her siblings, Leslie has successfully kept her professional and personal life out of the public domain. Very few details about her career are available, solidifying her private life.

A Critical Note on Misinformation: There has been recent confusion regarding Leslie’s status in the media. In August 2024, an obituary for a "Leslie Ann Hackman" who passed away at age 54 circulated, but it named her father as "Bernard," not Gene Hackman.

Gene Hackman’s daughter, Leslie Anne Hackman, is confirmed to be alive and was recently mentioned in reports concerning her father's estate and health, confirming she is one of his three surviving children.

The Relationship with Their Parents: Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman

The three Hackman children are the result of Gene Hackman's first marriage to Faye Maltese, a union that lasted three decades, from 1956 to 1986.

Hackman has openly discussed the difficulties of balancing his burgeoning, intense acting career with his family life, often citing his frequent absence due to filming on location as a major factor in the eventual divorce. This is a common narrative for the children of major Hollywood stars from that era.

Faye Maltese, the mother of the three children, passed away in 2017, leaving behind a legacy as the matriarch of the Hackman family's first generation.

The children's relationship with their father, while private, appears to be one of quiet support, especially in his later years following his retirement from acting in 2004. Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie have chosen to honor their father’s desire for a quiet life in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by maintaining their own low-key existences.

Addressing the Viral Death Hoax and Hackman’s Current Status

A recent, highly sensationalized wave of misinformation has incorrectly claimed that Gene Hackman died in early 2025 at the age of 95, often alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, due to a rare illness.

This is false. As of December 2025, Gene Hackman is alive and well, enjoying his retirement. He turned 95 on January 30, 2025, and was last seen in a rare public sighting in March 2024, walking with a cane near his home in Santa Fe.

The children's names and ages frequently appear in the wake of these hoaxes, as people search for confirmation and details about the family. It is Elizabeth Jean Hackman who was cited by media outlets confirming her father's good health, directly contradicting the viral rumors.

The family’s collective decision to live private lives is constantly challenged by the public's enduring fascination with the Hollywood legend and the resulting spread of unverified information.

The Hackman Legacy: Privacy Over Public Life

Gene Hackman's retirement in 2004 marked a complete withdrawal from the public eye, a choice he has strictly adhered to by focusing on his second career as a novelist. This desire for anonymity seems to have been inherited by his three children.

Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie are not known to have major roles in the entertainment industry, preferring instead to forge their own paths away from the intense media glare. This shared commitment to a private life is perhaps the most defining characteristic of the Hackman children.

Their ages—65, 63, and 59—reflect a generation that grew up witnessing the intense sacrifices and pressures of a Hollywood career, and they have deliberately chosen a different, quieter path. In a world of constant celebrity coverage, the Hackman children stand out as a rare example of a Hollywood family that truly values and maintains its privacy.