Liza Minnelli Blasts 'Downright Rude' Gene Hackman in Memoir After Actor's Death

The 'Cabaret' star recalled Hackman's dismissive behavior while filming 'Lucky Lady' in 1975.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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In her new memoir 'Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!,' Liza Minnelli has criticized the late actor Gene Hackman's 'downright rude' behavior towards her while they were filming the 1975 movie 'Lucky Lady.' Minnelli said the 'chemistry was absent' between them on set, and that the film's director Stanley Donen later publicly shared that Hackman was 'very dismissive' of Minnelli during production. Hackman passed away in February 2025 at the age of 95, six days after his wife Betsy Arakawa died.

Why it matters

Minnelli's memoir provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the tensions and interpersonal dynamics that can sometimes arise on film sets, even between acclaimed actors. Her criticism of Hackman's behavior sheds light on the challenges of working with difficult co-stars, especially for up-and-coming performers like Minnelli was at the time. The revelations also come after Hackman's tragic passing, adding a poignant layer to the story.

The details

In 'Lucky Lady,' Minnelli, 79, starred as Claire, a widow who begins smuggling alcohol with her lover, Walker (portrayed by Burt Reynolds), and his friend, Kibby (played by Hackman), during the Prohibition era. The trio gets into a messy love triangle as they try to avoid going to jail for their illegal crimes. Minnelli wrote that 'the chemistry was absent' between her and Hackman, and that the film's director Stanley Donen later shared publicly that Hackman was 'very dismissive' of Minnelli during production. The film was a box office flop and received negative reviews from critics.

  • Minnelli's memoir 'Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!' was published in 2026.
  • The film 'Lucky Lady' was released in 1975.
  • Gene Hackman passed away on February 18, 2025, six days after his wife Betsy Arakawa died.

The players

Liza Minnelli

An American actress, singer, and dancer who starred in the 1975 film 'Lucky Lady' alongside Gene Hackman.

Gene Hackman

An American actor who starred in the 1975 film 'Lucky Lady' alongside Liza Minnelli. Hackman passed away in 2025 at the age of 95.

Stanley Donen

The director of the 1975 film 'Lucky Lady.'

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What they’re saying

“I don't like to whine, but Stanley [Donen] later shared publicly that Gene was very dismissive of me during the film.”

— Liza Minnelli (Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!)

“It's hard to go to work when the chemistry is absent. I think it's fair to say that Gene was downright rude.”

— Liza Minnelli (Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!)

The takeaway

Minnelli's memoir provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the interpersonal dynamics and tensions that can arise on film sets, even between acclaimed actors. Her criticism of Hackman's behavior towards her sheds light on the challenges that up-and-coming performers can face when working with difficult co-stars, and adds a poignant layer to the story given Hackman's tragic passing.