Faye Maltese never achieved the public renown of her ex-husband, Gene Hackman, but her life followed an interesting and sometimes unexpected course. As Hackman’s first wife, she supported him through the early, uncertain years of his acting career; the pair shared nearly thirty years together, navigating both joys and difficulties while raising three children.
Their marriage eventually ended and Hackman later married Betsy Arakawa. What became of Maltese after the divorce? Did she find another relationship, and what were the forces that led to their split? This piece examines Faye Maltese’s life with and beyond the acclaimed actor, bringing forward lesser-known stories and details.
A New Yorker by Birth
Faye Maltese — born Faye Philippa Maltese in 1929 — was the first wife of Golden Globe winner Gene Hackman. She was American and of mixed ethnicity, with Italian heritage among her family background.
She kept a relatively private life before becoming publicly associated with Hackman, and details of her early years are scarce. It is known that she helped support her family by working as a secretary at a chemical bank in New York.
Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman: A Love-At-First-Glance Beginning
When they first crossed paths in 1955 at a Y.M.C.A. in New York, the connection between them was immediate. Gene was a 25-year-old serving in the military, while Faye worked as a bank secretary at Rockefeller Center. They were quickly drawn to one another and soon began dating.
After almost a year together, they took the next step and married in 1956 in a private ceremony surrounded by close friends and family, formalizing their commitment to each other.
The Couple Were Parents to Three Children
Their marriage produced three children: a son, Christopher Allen Hackman, and two daughters, Leslie Anne Hackman and Elizabeth Jean Hackman.
What Ended Their Three-Decade Marriage
While they were married, Gene devoted himself to building an acting career. After leaving the military he enrolled in classes at the Pasadena Playhouse and threw himself into the craft, determined to make a name in the industry. During those lean and uncertain years, Faye held down a bank job and provided steadiness and financial support so the family could manage while Gene chased his ambitions.
His pursuit of success demanded long stretches away from home, and those absences often left Faye and their children separated from him for months at a time. In an interview with the New York Times, Hackman acknowledged that his career made him “very selfish,” as he chased the money and recognition that came with certain roles and took jobs that pulled him away from family. He said,
You become very selfish as an actor. Even though I had a family, I took jobs that would separate us for three or four months at a time. The temptations in
Faye Maltese — Passing and Financial Standing at the Time
Faye Maltese died on April 26, 2017, at the age of 88, leaving behind cherished memories for her family and those who knew her. Her death was mourned by relatives and fans alike. Because there were no public reports of an illness or an accident, her passing is generally thought to have been due to natural causes, though her family and her ex-husband did not discuss the circumstances publicly.
Professionally, Maltese worked as a bank secretary, a role that would have provided steady pay. The exact figures for her earnings and net worth at the time of her death were not disclosed, but available information indicates she was able to support her family and help meet their needs during her life.
By comparison, Hackman achieved substantial financial success over his career in film and as a novelist, and his net worth has been reported at $80 million.
