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     One of my favorite movies is Hoosiers. The classic film tells the story of a small-town Indiana basketball team that overcame incredible odds to win the 1954 state championship. Having played high school basketball in the late 1950s and early 60s, I appreciated how accurately the movie captured that era. Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Coach Norman Dale—a tough but determined leader who transformed a struggling team into champions—made the film even more special.

     So when I heard the news that Gene Hackman had passed away last week, I was saddened. He was one of Hollywood’s great actors, bringing depth and authenticity to every role he played. While he never won an Academy Award for Hoosiers, he did win an Oscar for The French Connection and earned recognition for many other outstanding performances. From Hollywood’s perspective, Gene Hackman was a massive success.

     But the circumstances surrounding his death—and that of his wife, Betsy—were deeply tragic. The 95-year-old actor died of natural causes, with cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s listed as contributing factors. But what struck me most was this heartbreaking detail: Hackman had likely been dead for nine days before anyone discovered the bodies. His wife had died days earlier from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and even their dog was found dead in a cage.

It’s heartbreaking to think that a man who once stood in the spotlight of Hollywood, surrounded by admirers, spent his final days unnoticed, his passing discovered only when it was too late. And it brings to mind two important lessons.

        Lesson #1: In the End, Relationships Matter More Than Achievements

Gene Hackman had reached the pinnacle of success in his field. But what does it matter if you win all kinds of awards, earn millions of dollars, and become famous—only to spend your last days alone, with no one close enough to check in on you? His fellow actors were no longer around. His three children spoke positively about their memories with him, but apparently, they weren’t close enough to connect with him regularly.

King Solomon once reflected on this very issue:

“There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked, ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?’ This too is meaningless—a miserable business! Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:8-10).

     Who’s going to be around for you if you live to be 90 and need assistance? Are you investing in relationships that will last beyond your career, your wealth, or your public recognition? Life is meant to be lived in community. God designed us for relationships—both with Him and with one another.

       Lesson #2: Eternity Matters More Than Time

Even more crucial than relationships is the question of eternity. I truly hope Gene Hackman knew Jesus Christ and trusted Him as Lord and Savior. I hope that when Hackman passed, he heard the words of Jesus:

“Well done, good and faithful servant… come and share your Master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21).

But Hackman was a very private man, and as far as I can tell, he never spoke publicly about a faith in God. If he didn’t know the Lord, then his story has an even more tragic ending. Jesus warned:

“The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42).

     I hope the Hollywood success story of Gene Hackman, like Hoosiers, had a happy ending. I hope today he is celebrating in eternity, just as the Hickory High team celebrated their dramatic victory in Butler Fieldhouse. And I hope that one day, I’ll get to meet Gene Hackman in heaven and tell him how much I appreciated his acting ability.

     But in the end, Jesus reminds us what truly matters:

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)

 

Bob Russell is Retired Minister of the Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY.