Faye Maltese was the first wife of famous actor Gene Hackman. She was with him before he became a big Hollywood star. Their love story began in New York in the 1950s. They stayed married for 30 years.
Faye lived a quiet life while Gene became famous for his movies. They had three children and shared many years together. However, Gene’s busy work kept him away from home. Over time, this made their marriage harder.
Many people want to know what happened to Faye Maltese. Who was she before meeting Gene? What was their family life like? This article looks at her early years, job, marriage, children, and life with the famous actor.
Faye Maltese Quick Bio
| Full name | Faye Philippa Maltese |
| Known as | Gene Hackman’s first wife |
| Gender | Female |
| Birth date | December 18, 1928 |
| Birthplace | New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Italian roots |
| Father | Fran C. Maltese |
| Mother | Lena Maltese |
| Profession | Bank secretary |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-husband | Gene Hackman |
| Married | 1956 |
| Divorced | 1986 |
| Marriage length | 30 years |
| Children | Christopher, Elizabeth, Leslie |
| Death date | April 26, 2017 |
| Age at death | 88 years |
| Last residence | Van Nuys, California, reported |
| Cause of death | Not made public |
| Net worth | Not confirmed |
Faye Maltese’s Early Life
Faye Philippa Maltese was reportedly born on December 18, 1928, in New York, United States. She grew up in a family with Italian roots. Her life was simple before she became known as the wife of Gene Hackman.
Her parents were reportedly named Fran C. Maltese and Lena Maltese. Not much is known about their lives. There are also few details about Faye’s school years. She did not share much about her childhood with the public.
Faye Maltese was not born into a famous Hollywood family. She lived a normal life in New York before meeting Gene. Years later, people became interested in her story because of her long marriage to the famous actor.
Faye Maltese’s Job Before Marriage
Before marrying Gene Hackman, Faye Maltese worked as a secretary at a bank in New York City. She had a regular job and lived away from Hollywood fame. Her work was part of her life before meeting Gene.
During those years, Gene was also trying to build his future. He wanted to become an actor but had not found much success. He was still looking for chances to show his talent and earn money from acting.
Faye did not become a movie star like her husband. There are no known acting roles linked to her name. She later became known for her marriage to Gene and for being the mother of their three children.
How Faye Maltese Met Gene Hackman
Faye Maltese met Gene Hackman in 1955 at a YMCA dance in New York City. Gene was 25 years old and still trying to find acting work. Faye was working at a bank when their love story began.
At that time, Gene was not rich or famous. He was a young man with big dreams. Faye got to know him before the world knew his name. Their meeting soon grew into a close and loving relationship.
The couple decided to get married in 1956, about a year after they first met. Their early love story was not about money or fame. They wanted to build a home and share their future together.
Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman’s Marriage
Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman married in 1956. Their first years together were not easy. They had little money and lived in a small New York apartment. Gene was still working hard to become a successful actor.
Gene later went to California to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse. He met other young actors, including Dustin Hoffman. Finding good acting jobs took time, so the couple had to face many changes during those years.
Things changed when Gene became famous. Faye joined him at some public events, including the New York Film Critics Awards in 1972. That year, Gene also thanked her during his Oscar speech for The French Connection.
Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman’s Children
Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman had three children together. Their first child, Christopher Allen Hackman, was born in 1960. He was their only son. Christopher grew up while his father was working hard in the movie world.
Their second child, Elizabeth Jean Hackman, was born in August 1962. Their youngest child, Leslie Anne Hackman, was born in October 1966. Both daughters later joined their father at movie events, but they kept much of their lives private.
Faye raised her children while Gene worked on films. His work often took him away from home. The children grew up with a famous father, but their family also faced the problems that came with his busy life.
How Gene Hackman’s Fame Changed Faye Maltese’s Life
Gene Hackman became more famous after his role in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967. He later won an Oscar for The French Connection. His success brought more movie roles, more money, and more time away from home.
Faye Maltese saw how much Gene’s life changed. He often spent three or four months away while making movies. This meant he missed time with Faye and their children. Gene later said his work had hurt family life.
As the years passed, their marriage became harder. Gene loved acting, but his busy career left less time for his family. By the 1980s, the couple had grown apart. Their long marriage was moving toward a sad end.
Why Did Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman Divorce?
Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman divorced in 1986 after 30 years of marriage. Their relationship had faced many problems over time. Gene’s busy movie career kept him away from home, making it hard for them to spend time together.
Before their divorce, the couple had spent some time apart. Gene later said they had slowly grown apart. He loved his work, but making movies took much of his time. This made their marriage harder as the years passed.
Some people believed Gene left Faye for another woman. However, he said this was not true. He explained that they had lost touch with each other over time. Their divorce ended a long marriage that began before his fame.
Faye Maltese’s Life After Divorce
After her divorce, Faye Maltese stayed away from the public eye. She no longer joined Gene at movie events. She chose a quiet life, and there is little news about what she did during her later years.
Some reports say Faye lived in Van Nuys, California, after her marriage ended. She did not share much about her daily life. There is also no clear public record showing that she married another man after Gene.
Faye had spent many years raising her three children. After the divorce, she kept her life private. Gene continued working in movies, but Faye stayed away from Hollywood events. Her later years were mostly out of the news.
What Happened to Faye Maltese?
Faye Maltese died on April 26, 2017, according to reports about her life. She was 88 years old. Her death came more than 30 years after her divorce from Gene Hackman, whom she had married in 1956.
Faye reportedly spent her final years in Van Nuys, California. Her cause of death was not shared with the public. There are also few known details about her last days or the funeral held after her death.
Faye did not receive the same news attention as her famous former husband. She had lived away from the cameras for many years. Still, her name remains part of Gene Hackman’s story because of their long marriage and children.
Faye Maltese’s Net Worth and Lifestyle
Faye Maltese’s net worth was never made public. There are no trusted reports showing how much money she had when she died. She kept her life private, so little is known about her money or personal belongings.
Before her marriage, Faye worked as a bank secretary in New York City. Gene later made a great deal of money from his movies. However, his wealth was not the same as Faye’s own money after their divorce.
Gene Hackman was said to be worth around $80 million when he died in 2025. Faye’s own wealth remains unknown. There are no clear public details about the money or property she received when their marriage ended.
Gene Hackman’s Second Wife and Final Years
After his divorce from Faye Maltese, Gene Hackman married Betsy Arakawa in 1991. Betsy was a piano player who met Gene in the 1980s. They built a new life together but did not have any children.
Gene and Betsy later lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They enjoyed a quiet home life away from Hollywood. Gene’s last movie was Welcome to Mooseport in 2004. After that, he spent more time writing books.
Sadly, Gene and Betsy were found dead at their home on February 26, 2025. Betsy died from a rare illness spread by rodents. Gene died from heart disease. He also had Alzheimer’s disease, which affected his memory.
Final Thoughts
Faye Maltese was part of Gene Hackman’s life before he became famous. She married him when he was still trying to find acting work. They shared many years together and raised three children during his rise to fame.
Their children, Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie, have mostly kept their lives private. Gene later spoke about missing time with them because of his work. He knew that being away for months had made family life harder.
Faye did not become a movie star, but her life still has an important place in Gene’s story. She was there during his early struggles and later success. Their long marriage remains a part of Hollywood history.
(FAQs)
How old was Faye Maltese when she died?
Faye Maltese was 88 years old when she died on April 26, 2017. She was reportedly born on December 18, 1928, in New York, United States.
What caused Faye Maltese’s death?
Faye Maltese’s cause of death was never shared with the public. She reportedly died in California in 2017, but no clear details about her health or final days are known.
Did Faye Maltese remarry after Gene Hackman?
There is no confirmed report that Faye Maltese married again after divorcing Gene Hackman in 1986. She kept her life private and stayed away from the public eye.
What were Faye Maltese’s ethnicity, nationality, and net worth?
Faye Maltese was American and reportedly had Italian family roots. Her net worth was never made public, so there is no confirmed amount of money she owned.
How many children did Faye Maltese have?
Faye Maltese had three children with Gene Hackman. Their son, Christopher Allen, was born in 1960. Their daughters, Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne, were born in 1962 and 1966.
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