Legendary actor Gene Hackman’s personal collection, featuring annotated pieces of cinematic memorabilia and three of his Golden Globe awards, is set to be auctioned off. This comes after it was revealed that Hackman left nothing to his three children in his will.
Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead in their New Mexico home in February. Their bodies, both in similar states of decomposition, were believed to have been there for weeks before a longtime contractor and friend discovered them. Arakawa reportedly died from Hantavirus, likely contracted from rodent nests in their hoarder-like residence. Hackman, who was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and unable to care for himself, passed away about a week after his wife, apparently unaware of her death.
According to Hackman’s will, Arakawa was named the sole beneficiary, leaving nothing to their three children. The will also included a simultaneous death clause, stipulating that if both passed within 90 days of each other, the majority of their assets would be donated to charity.
Now, Hackman’s estate is partnering with New York City-based auction house Bonhams to sell a selection of his belongings. The auction will begin with pieces from his art collection during an in-person sale on November 19.
After retiring from acting in 2004, Hackman’s passion for art grew immensely, leading him to amass a substantial and prestigious collection. Andrew Huber, Bonhams’ Head of 20th & 21st Century Art, commented, “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.”
Following the in-person sale, a second wave will take place online from November 8 to November 21. This auction will feature more artwork as well as three of Hackman’s four coveted Golden Globe awards — one for Wes Anderson’s *The Royal Tenenbaums* and another for Clint Eastwood’s *Unforgiven*, among others.
Additionally, Hackman’s third Golden Globe, the Cecil B. De Mille Lifetime Achievement Award, will also be available but is not yet listed online. However, his first-ever Golden Globe, awarded for *The French Connection* (which also earned him his first Oscar), will not be sold.
The final round of the auction will run online from November 25 to December 4. It will showcase more personal items found in Hackman’s home, including a used dartboard from his game room and small busts of renowned figures such as French satirist Voltaire and Roman statesman Marcus Agrippa.
Other items slated for sale — though not yet available online — include numerous annotated scripts and memorabilia spanning Hackman’s extensive film career, according to Bonhams.
This auction offers a unique glimpse into the life and passions of one of Hollywood’s most distinguished actors, bringing his treasured collection to the public for the first time.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/20/entertainment/memorabilia-from-gene-hackmans-storied-career-including-3-golden-globes-to-be-auctioned-off/