Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday afternoon. Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were discovered alongside their dog during a welfare check conducted by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Officials have stated that there is no immediate indication of foul play. The exact cause of death has not been determined as investigations continue.
Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the discovery, stating, “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday.” Authorities are waiting on a search warrant as part of the inquiry. The timing and circumstances of their deaths have not been disclosed.
The couple lived in Santa Fe for decades, having settled in the area in the 1980s. Hackman retired from acting in 2004 after a career spanning more than forty years. He met Arakawa in the late 1980s when she was working at a gym. The two married in 1991 and maintained a private life outside the entertainment industry.
Hackman’s work earned widespread recognition. He gained national attention in 1967 with Bonnie and Clyde, where he played Buck Barrow. The performance led to his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Major roles followed in the 1970s and beyond, including his portrayal of Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, a performance that earned him his first Academy Award. Other performances included The Conversation, Superman, Unforgiven, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Hoosiers. He became known for roles that balanced toughness with complexity.
Public tributes followed the news of Hackman’s death. Director Francis Ford Coppola, who worked with him on The Conversation, wrote, “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration. Gene Hackman was a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity.”
Actor George Takei wrote, “Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it. He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.”
Hackman stepped away from Hollywood in 2004 and lived quietly in New Mexico. He turned his focus to writing, publishing several historical fiction novels. In a 2009 interview, he stated that health concerns led to his decision to retire.
His final film, Welcome to Mooseport, was released in 2004. He is survived by three children from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese, who passed away in 2017.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa. A formal cause of death will be determined following further examination.