Gene Hackman Slaps Homeless Man Across The Face; 'French Connection' Film Star Admits To Altercation After Bum Calls His Wife The C-word

Gene Hackman with wife Betsy were leaving a Santa Fe, New Mexico, restaurant yesteday afternoon when a homeless man approached he couple and instigated hostility, even allegedly calling Betsy the c-word. In a valo act of protect his wife and himself from the aggressive bum, 82-year-old Gene Hackman retaliated by slapping the homeless across the face, an act Hackman later admitted to doing.

According to Sgt. Andrea Dobyns during an interview with E!, the homeless man later dialed 911 at approximiately 1:30 p.m. to report the assault, no doubt an attempt to turn the table and charge the famed actor.

Officers responding to the call spoke with Gene Hackman and his wife as well as the homeless man. According to Hackman's report, the homeless man confronted the couple first, speaking rudely and acting in an aggressive way that caused Hackman to act on behalf of he safety of his wife and himself.

The homeless showed no visible signs of injury and both parties were asked to leave without an arrest or a citation for the altercation.

According to Sgt. Dobyns, "I looked like Mr. Hackman did this purely ou of self-defence to protect himself and his wife." Hopefully, that will teach all of us to never forget that the old actor once played the butch role of Detective Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in the iconic film "The French Connection."

Beyond Hackman's recent confrontation with the stranger, celebrities are often caught amid hostile encounters, albeit with paparazzi rather than strangers off the street.