Bill Murray in Rome on Oct. 17, 2019; Gene Hackman in Los Angeles circa 1996. Photo:

In a preview from his interview on The Drew Barrymore Show, airing in full Wednesday, March 5, the 74-year-old Riff Raff actor recalled working with the late Hackman on 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums, praising him as a “really good” actor who could have little patience for newer filmmakers.

“Older great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They’re really rough on them, and Gene was really rough on Wes. I used to kind of step in there and just try to defend my friend,” the Ghostbusters star added.

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From L: Grant Rosenmeyer, Bill Murray, Danny Glover, Ben Stiller, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Luke Wilson and Jonah Meyerson in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).

Upon finding Hackman and his wife’s dead bodies, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office confirmed to PEOPLE that foul play was not suspected, though Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said on the Today show Friday, Feb. 28, that investigators were not ruling it out.