Come back, Gene

Once upon a time (the mid-80s to be precise) you couldn't watch a movie without seeing either Gene Hackman or Michael Caine on screen. Good days, to be sure. They're both terrific actors, and they can liven up even the saddest of spectacles -- "Jaws IV," anyone??
Caine continues to work at a breakneck pace -- he plays Alfred again in the upcoming "Dark Knight." But where has Hackman gone? His last major role came in 2004's "Welcome to Mooseport," which showed for the umpteenth time how he can shine in the lousiest of films. Since then -- nothing. His voice can be heard on television commericals for Lowe's and, if memory serves, United Airlines. But there's no new films on his imdb.com resume and I haven't heard about him in ages.
According to an account in Wikipedia, he told Larry King a few years back that he thinks his acting career is over.
Here's hoping he's in good health and has a change of heart, stat.