Gene Hackman said this was his biggest career regret

Gene Hackman had a legendary career before his death at age 95.

The actor had a catalog of iconic roles, which earned him five Academy Award nominations and two wins. Hackman took home his first Oscar for “The French Connection” in 1972 and his second in 1993 for “Unforgiven.”

In 1999, the star opened up about the one regret he had in his decades-long career.

Gene Hackman at the 1993 Academy Awards.
Gene Hackman at the 1993 Academy Awards.Getty Images

Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood at the 65th Academy Awards.
Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood at the 65th Academy Awards.Getty Images
“I wish that maybe in the … late ’70s and early ’80s that I had moved back to New York and kept more in touch with the theater so that I could have maybe expanded my craft and kept more in touch with what acting means to me,” Hackman told journalist Charlie Rose.

Gene Hackman’s children: All about the legendary actor’s three kids

“I’d have to be comfortable,” he said of returning to his roots on the stage. “I’ve lived a soft life too long to camp out.”

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Hackman started his career in the theater in the ’60s, appearing in a slew of Broadway plays like “Any Wednesday,” “A Rainy Day in Newark,” “The Natural Look” and “Poor Richard.”

Gene Hackman as Detective Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in "The French Connection."
Gene Hackman as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection.”Getty Images

Gene Hackman and Joanna Pettet in "Poor Richard."
Gene Hackman and Joanna Pettet in “Poor Richard” on Broadway.Friedman-Abeles (Firm) / NYPL
At the 2003 Golden Globes, Hackman received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

He said at the time, “I never wanted to be anything but an actor.”

In 1986, while promoting his sports film “Hoosiers,” Hackman got candid on what it takes to be a “good” actor.

The film star said the key was confidence.

Gene Hackman, Glenn Close and Richard Dreyfuss in the Broadway play "Death and the Maiden."
Gene Hackman, Glenn Close and Richard Dreyfuss in the Broadway play “Death and the Maiden.”Martha Swope / NYPL
“You have to have some sense of ego about yourself to be in this business,” explained Hackman. “I have a degree of confidence about myself as an actor. That doesn’t mean that I think I’m king of the hill, or anything else, but I think you have to have that. That sense that when you walk onstage and you take stage — and I mean that in film also — that there’s a sense of command about what you do. Not that you want to push out other actors but you want that to be right.”

Hackman’s career in Hollywood came to a halt in 2008 when he retired due to his heart.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” he revealed to Empire in a 2009 interview.

Gene Hackman in the 1988 film "Mississippi Burning."
Gene Hackman in the 1988 film “Mississippi Burning.”©Orion Pictures Corp/Courtesy Everett Collection
“The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress,” shared Hackman.

His last role was in the 2004 rom-com “Welcome to Mooseport.” Hackman played a retired president who retreated to a sleepy Maine town, only to be asked to run for mayor against his rival, Handy Harrison, played by Ray Romano.

During a July 2004 appearance on “Larry King Live,” Hackman hinted at stepping back from the industry. Four years later, he made it official.

“I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer. I’ve been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don’t want to do it any longer,” Hackman told Reuters in 2008.

Gene Hackman accepts his Oscar for best actor at the 44th Academy Awards.
Gene Hackman accepts his Oscar for Best Actor at the 44th Academy Awards.AP
Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, and their dog were found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday.

The police noted that their deaths are being investigated as “suspicious.”

Authorities said that the door to the couple’s home was “unsecured and opened.” The couple’s two other dogs were found alive.

Despite the family’s concern that Hackman and Arakawa may have passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities said there was “no obvious sign of a gas leak” and the deaths were “suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation.”

Per police, a prescription pill bottle and pills were scattered around the room where Hackman’s wife died. Hackman was allegedly found in what authorities are calling a mudroom, with police stating it appeared he had “suddenly fallen.”

Many stars have since taken to social media to share tributes to the actor.

Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa in 1986.
Actor Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa in 1986. The two married in 1991.Getty Images

Gene Hackman in the 1988 film "Split Decisions."
Gene Hackman in the 1988 film “Split Decisions.”