Actor Gene Hackman (94) and his wife Betsy Arakawa (62) make their first public appearance in 21 years.

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by Leah Bitsky

They are still going strong!

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa made a rare public appearance together Thursday for the first time in 21 years.

The French Connection actor, 94, and Arakawa, 62, enjoyed an early dinner at Papadeau Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to exclusive photos obtained by Page Six.

Mr Hackman was seen holding his much younger wife's arm with one hand and leaning on a cane with the other.

The couple appeared to be in good spirits as Arakawa helped her husband leave the casual restaurant.

Hackman looked cozy in a gray fleece vest layered over a plaid button-down.

He also wore olive green cargo pants and lace-up hiking boots, giving the Hollywood legend some sure-footedness. He also wore a beige baseball cap and sunglasses on his head.

Meanwhile, the classical pianist wore a colorful Western-style paisley shirt, jeans, and brown suede boots.

She accessorized her look with dangling earrings and carried a navy jacket in her free hand.

On the same day, Hackman was seen going to a convenience store and buying a hot cup of coffee and an apple pie.

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The two were last seen together in public on the red carpet at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards.

The “Bonnie and Clyde” star retired from her acting career the following year and has been lying low in Santa Fe ever since.

The two-time Oscar-winning recluse was spotted in top shape while working in his garden in March 2023, making him real for the first time in years.

According to the New York Times, Hackman and Arakawa met when she worked part-time at a gym in Los Angeles that Hackman frequented.

The couple married in 1991 and lived together on a rural, Southwest-style Santa Fe ranch, which was featured in Architectural Digest.

Although the couple had no children together, Hackman has three adult children with ex-wife Faye Maltese: Christopher, 64, Elizabeth, 61, and Leslie, 57.

Hackman and his first wife were married for 30 years before divorcing in 1986.