Gene Hackman knew homeless man he slapped in New Mexico, police say

Gene Hackman attends at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2003. / AP

Gene Hackman had given clothes, money and rides to a homeless man whom he slapped this week after the man became aggressive toward the 82-year-old Oscar-winning actor and his wife, according to a police report detailing the incident in New Mexico.

Santa Fe police say Hackman acted in self-defense, and no charges have been filed.

• Gene Hackman strikes homeless man, police say

Hackman told officers he had helped Bruce Becker, 63, for several years, and Becker told a similar story. But their versions of the physical confrontation diverge. Hackman said he slapped the man once, and Becker said he was hit 10 to 12 times.

The report released by Santa Fe police said both agreed the incident began when Becker approached Hackman and his wife, Betsy, on a street early Tuesday afternoon and asked for money.

Becker told police Hackman called him a worthless bum and told him to get a job. Hackman said he told Becker to get a job and tried to walk away, but Becker kept following him and his wife asking for money and calling them by a derogatory name.

Becker said he told Hackman, "Gene, you are just another Clint Eastwood, you are nothing but an empty chair," an apparent reference to Eastwood's unscripted performance at the Republican National Convention, when he addressed an empty chair as if it were President Barack Obama.

Becker told officers that's when Hackman went "ballistic" and began "pummeling" him.

Hackman told police Becker became angry when he refused to give him money, called him a name and moved in close in a threatening manner. The actor told officers that's when he slapped Becker once to fend him off, and both fell to the ground.

Hackman and his wife have a home in Santa Fe. He has won two Academy Awards (for his roles in "The French Connection" and "Unforgiven") and has been nominated for three others over a career that has spanned five decades.

[cmunicatunbrkdwn]

LOL, an 80 year old man pummeling him? Sounds like he's trying to get the big bucks out of Hackman. It says in the article that Gene knew him. That he has been giving him clothes and money over the years. So this is the thanks he gets?

[azfalcon55]

Keep feeding them (and their addiction) and they never learn how to survive without someone (or some government program) supporting them. Call me an A$$h@!e if it makes you feel better - but deep down you know it's true. It's far more cruel to feed the birds and stop when it gets cold, than it is to never feed them to begin with.

[MIO42]

SOMEONE once said long ago
"We will always have the poor"
He said other stuff too

[JoeGuy59]

you don't mess with gene hackman; even at 82 years old.

[heidihandrich]

I have been approached for money in the past and I said that I'm wasn't able to give money anymore but that I would go get some food for the person who asked me for money and the person was actually offended.

[cattiej]

Hackman should have had the guy arrested the FIRST time he bothered him. Now many peple have learned a lesson from Hackman...don't give to the homeless who are greedy and only want more money, more of your time, more money, more clothes, more money, more rides to the bar, more money...How many times has this guy Becker been arrested? Becker should get a job, in a soup kitchen etc. if he needs help, but then he probably had already worn out his welcome at the soup kitchen...I know this type of guy...it's always the other guys fault...NO IT'S NOT.. I hope Mr. Hackman has a restraining order against this Becker guy.

[FreeRangeChick]

Hey, Redneck -- er ah, I mean Redgun53, maybe Hackman was teaching him to be a stuntman!