Picture a simple dance in New York City back in 1955. A young woman meets a young man there. Neither of them knows it yet, but he will one day become a Hollywood legend. That woman was Faye Maltese, and that man was Gene Hackman.
Faye stood by Gene’s side for 30 years. She was there through the hard, early days, long before the fame and the awards. She saw him rise from a struggling actor to a huge star. Through it all, she stayed quiet and out of the spotlight.
Most people know Gene Hackman’s name. But few know much about Faye Maltese, the woman he married first. She lived a private life. She wasn’t an actress or a public figure. She was, in many ways, an ordinary woman with an extraordinary story.
In this article, we’ll walk through her full life. We’ll look at where Faye Maltese came from, how she met Gene, and the family they built. We’ll also cover their divorce and her later years. Let’s get the full, honest picture.
Who Was Faye Maltese?
So, who exactly was Faye Maltese? In simple terms, she was the first wife of Gene Hackman, the famous American actor. She married him in 1956, years before he became a household name. Their marriage lasted about three decades.
Faye was a private person by nature. She didn’t chase fame or attention. While her husband lived a very public life, she stayed in the background. She focused on her home and her family instead of the bright lights of Hollywood.
Even today, people still search for her name. Much of that interest comes from her link to Gene Hackman. When his life is talked about, Faye’s name often comes up too. She’s remembered as the woman who was with him from the start.
Here’s an honest note before we go on. Because Faye lived such a private life, not much is publicly known about her own story. Most of what we know is tied to her marriage and her children. Still, her life is worth telling.
Faye Maltese’s Early Life and Family
Faye Maltese was born in New York, USA, on December 18, 1928. She grew up in an Italian family. Her roots and background were a big part of who she was. She held American nationality and was of mixed ethnicity.
We do know a little about her parents. Her father was named Fran C. Maltese. Her mother was named Lena Maltese. Beyond these names, not much about her family life has been shared with the public.
The truth is, Faye’s childhood is not well documented. She grew up out of the spotlight, long before she was linked to a star. Like many people of her time, she lived a normal, everyday life as a young woman in New York.
This lack of detail isn’t strange for someone like her. Faye Maltese was a private woman, not a public figure. So her early years stay mostly her own. What we do know paints her as a regular young woman with simple roots.
Faye Maltese’s Job as a Bank Clerk
Before she was known as anyone’s wife, Faye had her own job. She worked as a secretary in New York City. Reports say she worked at a bank. Her workplace was near the famous Rockefeller Center in the heart of the city.
Back in 1989, the New York Times Magazine described her in a sweet way. They called her a “pretty and dark-haired” secretary. That small detail gives us a little peek into who she was during those early years.
Her job tells us something important about Faye Maltese. She was a hardworking, down-to-earth woman. She earned her own way with a steady, honest job. There was nothing flashy about her life at that time.
It’s a nice contrast to think about. Faye was a simple bank clerk. Gene would go on to win Oscars and star in huge films. Yet their story began on equal ground, with two regular people just starting out in life.
How Faye Maltese Met Gene Hackman
Now for the sweet part. How did these two meet? It happened in 1955, at a YMCA dance in New York City. It was a simple night out, the kind that changes a life without anyone knowing it at the time.
Back then, Gene was just 25 years old. He was nowhere near famous. He was a young man with big dreams but no success yet. Faye, the dark-haired secretary, caught his eye at that dance.
The spark between them was real. They connected quickly and their bond grew fast. It didn’t take long for things to get serious. Just a year later, in 1956, the two decided to get married.
It’s a humble, lovely start to their story. There was no red carpet and no fame. Just two young people who met at a dance and chose to build a life together. That’s how the story of Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman began.
Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman’s Marriage
Faye and Gene tied the knot in 1956, just a year after they met. They were young and full of hope. But their early years together were not easy. Fame and money were still a long way off for the couple.
In those first years, money was tight. The young family lived in what was called a “cold water walk-up.” That means their home had no hot water supply. It was a tough way to live, but they made it work together.
Life before fame was a real struggle. Gene was chasing his acting dream, which didn’t pay much at first. Through all of it, Faye stood by his side. She was his partner during the leanest and hardest days of his career.
Over time, they built a family together. They welcomed three children into their lives. Faye Maltese became the steady heart of their home. While Gene worked to make his name, she helped hold everything together.
In the end, their marriage lasted about 30 years. That’s a long time by any measure. They shared decades of ups and downs. Their strongest bond may have formed in those early days, when it was just the two of them against the world.
Faye Maltese’s Children With Gene Hackman
Faye and Gene became parents to three children during Kathleen McCrone: Her Life, Career, Family, and Marriage to Wayne Newton. Their first child was a son named Christopher Allen Hackman, born in 1960. He was their only boy, and the couple were proud to welcome him into the family.
Two daughters followed after him. Elizabeth Jean Hackman arrived in August 1962. Then came the youngest, Leslie Anne Hackman, born in October 1966. With three kids at home, Faye Maltese had her hands full raising the family.
At one point, Christopher tried to follow his father into acting. Gene even wrote him a couple of short monologues to help him. Sadly, that acting dream didn’t take off for him. But it did spark something in Gene, who later found joy in writing.
Here’s the hard part of the story. Gene’s career often kept him far from home. He worked on films that took him away for months at a time. That meant Faye carried much of the load, caring for the children during his long absences.
Why Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman Divorced
After about 30 years together, Faye and Gene divorced in 1986. It was the end of a long chapter. So what went wrong? The answer mostly comes down to Gene’s busy and demanding career.
Gene was honest about his part in it. He admitted that fame changed him. In his own words, he became “selfish.” He said it was hard to turn down big roles, even when they pulled him away from his family for months.
He once shared his feelings very openly. He said the money and fame were “too much for the poor boy in me.” He felt he couldn’t handle it all. His long absences slowly created distance between him and Faye Maltese.
Still, Gene made one thing very clear. He said he did not leave Faye for a younger woman. Instead, he explained that the two simply “drifted apart.” They lost sight of each other over the years, and the marriage quietly faded.
It’s a familiar story in many ways. Fame put a heavy strain on the family. The couple who once shared a cold-water flat had grown in different directions. And so, after three decades, their journey together came to an end.
Gene Hackman’s Second Wife, Betsy Arakawa
A few years after the divorce, Gene found love again. Her name was Betsy Arakawa. She was a classical pianist, born in Hawaii. She was also much younger than Gene, by about 30 years.
The two actually met in the 1980s, while Gene was still married to Faye. Betsy was working part-time at a fitness center at the time. They began dating in the mid-1980s. Later, in 1991, the couple got married.
Betsy and Gene never had children of their own. But she became a stepmother to Faye’s three kids. After Gene retired from Hollywood, the couple settled into a quiet, peaceful life in Santa Fe, New Mexico, far from the busy world of film.
Sadly, their story had a heartbreaking end. In early 2025, both Gene and Betsy were found dead at their Santa Fe home. Betsy passed from a rare illness called hantavirus. Gene died from heart disease a short time later, at the age of 95.
Faye Maltese’s Later Life and Death
What about Faye after the divorce? She moved on with her own life. In her later years, Faye Maltese lived in Van Nuys, California. She stayed private, just as she always had, away from the noise of fame.
She lived a calm and quiet life. Faye never sought the spotlight, even as her ex-husband remained a big star. She kept her world simple and personal, focused on herself and her family rather than public attention.
Faye Maltese passed away on April 26, 2017. She was 88 years old at the time. Her death marked the end of a long and full life. Her exact cause of death was never made public, keeping with the private nature she always had.
Even after their divorce, she was not forgotten. Faye was mentioned in Gene Hackman’s obituary after his own passing. It was a quiet nod to the woman who shared 30 years and three children with him. She’s remembered as his first wife and a devoted mother.
Faye Maltese’s Net Worth
Many people wonder about Faye Maltese’s net worth. Here’s the honest truth: her personal wealth was never made public. There are no clear records of what she owned or earned during her life.
Why so little detail? Again, it comes back to her private life. Faye was not a celebrity. She didn’t have a public career with reported earnings. So her financial world stayed her own business, hidden from the public eye.
It helps to look at her ex-husband for some context. Gene Hackman had an estimated fortune of around $80 million at the time of his death in 2025. That was his wealth, though, built from his long acting career.
One clear note is worth making here. We should not mix up the two. Gene’s $80 million was his own. There’s no public proof of what, if anything, Faye held. It’s best to be honest and simply say her net worth is unknown.
Interesting Facts About Faye Maltese
- She met Gene Hackman in 1955 at a YMCA dance in New York City, when he was just 25 and not yet famous.
- She worked as a secretary and bank clerk in New York, near the famous Rockefeller Center.
- A 1989 New York Times Magazine piece described her as a “pretty and dark-haired” secretary.
- She was born in New York on December 18, 1928, into an Italian family.
- In their early married years, she and Gene lived in a “cold-water walk-up” — a home with no hot water.
- She and Gene were married for about 30 years, from 1956 to 1986.
- They had three children together: son Christopher (1960) and daughters Elizabeth (1962) and Leslie (1966).
- Gene said their marriage ended because they “drifted apart,” and he stressed he did not leave her for a younger woman.
Bottom Line
At the end of the day, Faye Maltese was much more than just a famous man’s first wife. She was a real person with her own quiet strength. She met Gene at a simple dance and stood by him through his hardest years.
Her true role shines in her family. Faye was a devoted mother to three children. She held her home together while Gene chased his big dreams. She lived through the struggle of cold-water flats and the rise of a Hollywood legend.
Faye Maltese chose a private life, and she kept it that way to the very end. She never wanted the spotlight. Yet her story still matters. Behind one of Hollywood’s greats stood a steady, caring woman who helped shape his early life.
So now you know her full story. Faye Maltese lived quietly, loved deeply, and raised a family with care. And even though she stayed out of the limelight, her place in Gene Hackman’s life story will always be remembered.
(FAQs)
How did Faye Maltese meet Gene Hackman?
They met in 1955 at a YMCA dance in New York City. Gene was 25 and not yet famous. They married a year later, in 1956.
How many children did Faye Maltese have?
She had three children with Gene Hackman: a son named Christopher and two daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie.
Why did Faye Maltese and Gene Hackman divorce?
They divorced in 1986. Gene’s demanding career kept him away for long periods, and the couple slowly drifted apart over the years.
When did Faye Maltese die?
Faye Maltese died on April 26, 2017, at the age of 88. Her cause of death was not shared with the public.
Was Faye Maltese in the public eye?
No. Faye lived a very private life. She was not an actress or a public figure, and most of her fame came through her marriage to Gene Hackman.
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