PRINCE William has paid a heartfelt tribute to Gene Hackman after the star was found dead alongside his wife and dog at home.
Police in Santa Fe revealed the star, 95, was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, and their dog in their plush $3.8 million home on Wednesday.
Prince William is the president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and has attended the awards ceremony in London many times with the Princess of Wales.
In a post on X the Royal paid an emotional tribute to the award-winning actor, who he called a "true genius of film" with "star quality".
He said: "So sad to hear the news of the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy.
"Hackman was a true genius of film who brought each and every character to life with power, authenticity and star quality. W".
This follows BAFTA's heartfelt message about the "much-celebrated" late actor.
A spokesperson for the academy wrote: "We are saddened to hear that the much-celebrated actor Gene Hackman has died aged 95.
"Hackman's illustrious career spanned over six decades and earned him BAFTA wins for his work in Unforgiven, The French Connection and The Poseidon Adventure."
Floods of messages from fellow Hollywood stars have also poured in to remember the acting legend and his special career.
American actor said Gene's work "will live on forever".
Takei said: "We have lost one of the true giants of the screen. Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it.
"He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was."
This comes as the film star's family believe the married couple may have been poisoned in a suspected gas leak.
One of the couple's horrified friends found the bodies inside their $3.8million Santa Fe home and desperately called the cops on Wednesday afternoon.
Mystery still surrounds the shock deaths as the pair were found in separate rooms and one of their dogs was dead in a kennel while the others miraculously survived, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said.
Deputies rushed to the couple's $3.8million mansion at around 1:45pm and found both of their bodies inside the home.
Cops have now labelled their deaths "suspicious" because "the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened", per .
Gene's breakout moment was in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967, where he played Buck Barrow.
He went on to star in Superman movies as well as hit films like Mississippi Burning, Unforgiven, Crimson Tide and The Poseidon Adventure.
In 1972, he scooped the Best Actor gong for his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in The French Connection.
Gene won a second Academy Award in 1993 as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the western flick Unforgiven.
He played Little Bill Daggett in the film that also starred Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and Anna Thomson.
Unforgiven scooped four Oscars, including Best Picture.
His glittering Hollywood career included more than 100 acting roles.
He received five Academy Award nominations, won two Oscars, bagged two BAFTA nominations and three Golden Globes.
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