Authorities stated that foul play is not believed to have played a role in the couple’s deaths.


Gene Hackman, an Oscar-winning actor, and his wife were found dead in a Santa Fe home. Oscar-winning actor and author Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, residence on February 26, according to authorities.

 According to a Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesperson, Denise Avila, Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, a classical pianist, were discovered alongside their deceased dog at approximately 1:45 p.m. local time. Officers had arrived at the home to perform a welfare check.

 Although no criminal activity is suspected, the circumstances surrounding their deaths have not yet been made public by authorities. An investigation is currently underway. Hackman had three children from two marriages. He married Arakawa in 1991. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, the couple had been living in Santa Fe since the 1980s. They were in a gated community on Old Sunset Trail. A Celebrated Career

 Hackman's roles in The French Connection (1971), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, and Unforgiven (1992), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, were his most well-known roles. His illustrious career also included standout performances in Mississippi Burning (1988), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Runaway Jury (2003), and The Conversation (1974).  He famously portrayed Lex Luthor in the Superman films of the 1970s and ’80s.

 Hackman had a career that spanned six decades and included work in more than 80 films, television, and stage productions. He was widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s most accomplished and versatile actors, earning two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, four Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

 Born in California in 1930, Hackman enlisted in the U.S.  Marines at age 16, serving for four and a half years before transitioning to acting.  His breakout role came in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, where he portrayed Buck Barrow.

 His final major film appearance was in 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport.  Hackman admitted in an interview with Empire in 2009 that he decided to retire from acting due to health issues. Tributes Pour In

 Social media was flooded with tributes from the entertainment industry following the news of his passing. George Takei, an actor, wrote on X that "we have lost one of the true giants of the screen." “Gene Hackman was able to play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind his performances. He could be anyone and everyone, a massive figure or a regular Joe. French film studio StudioCanal’s UK division called Hackman’s passing a “colossal loss for cinema.”

 Hackman’s legacy as a Hollywood legend remains firmly cemented, with his contributions to film leaving an indelible mark on the industry.