Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa found dead in Santa Fe home; no foul play suspected

Gene Hackman death news: Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and wife found deceased in Santa Fe home

Two-time Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday, along with their dog. Hackman was 95, and Arakawa was 63. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed their deaths early Thursday to the Santa Fe New Mexican, stating there were no immediate signs of foul play. The exact cause and time of death have not been disclosed.

Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, was celebrated for the versatility of his performances across a career spanning over six decades. He earned his first Oscar for Best Actor as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection (1971) and a second for Best Supporting Actor as “Little” Bill Daggett in Unforgiven (1992). From the cunning Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) to the troubled surveillance expert in The Conversation (1974), Hackman’s many faces had cemented his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic actors.

Born Eugene Allen Hackman on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, he joined the Marine Corps at 16, later pursuing journalism and radio before turning to acting. Hackman’s breakthrough role came as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), earning him an Academy Award nomination. He continued to deliver memorable performances in films such as Hoosiers (1986), Mississippi Burning (1988), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), for which he received a Golden Globe.

In 1991, Hackman married Arakawa, and the couple relocated from Los Angeles to Santa Fe, where they resided until their passing. Hackman retired from acting in 2004 after his role in Welcome to Mooseport, subsequently focusing on writing historical fiction novels.

Sheriff Mendoza said that there is no threat to the community and that an active investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Hackman is survived by his three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese: Christopher, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne.