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Gene Hackman might be a ripe 82 years old, but he's still not afraid to deliver some five-fingered vigilante justice right in the middle of the street to protect his lady.
According to E! Online, Hackman and his wife Betsy were publicly accosted by an aggressive homeless dude in Sante Fe, N.M., yesterday, and, after the non-gent both called his wife a profane name (per TMZ, it was the "c" word) and got into their faces, Mr. Hackman just had to become Mr. Smackman.
Local police were reportedly called to the scene by the recipient of the two-time Oscar winner's backhand, but after speaking with the "victim" and Hackman himself about the incident, the authorities declared the physical act was "more like a slap than a punch" and Hackman's response to the man's approach was done "purely out of self-defense to protect himself and his wife."
We can't help but wonder whether he pulled out his famous Little Bill Daggett "Unforgiven" zinger — "I suppose you know, Bob, if I ever see you again I'm just going to start shooting and figure it was self-defense" — on the fella.
In either case, Gene Hackman is clearly not afraid to lay the smack down when prodded.
