Gene Hackman, a Hollywood legend and two-time Academy Award winner, was found deceased along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog at their home in New Mexico on Wednesday. Investigators believe they may have been dead for some time, though the exact cause of death remains under investigation.
Hackman, 95, was a versatile actor known for portraying both heroes and villains across a vast range of iconic films such as The French Connection, Hoosiers, and Superman from the 1960s through the early 2000s.
Details surrounding the deaths remain unclear as authorities continue their investigation. Here’s what we know so far:
A maintenance worker discovered the bodies after arriving for routine work at the Santa Fe home. He noticed the front door was open and saw Arakawa, 63, lying on the floor through a window but could not enter. Hackman’s body was found in the entryway, while Arakawa was discovered near a space heater in the bathroom, with scattered pills next to an open prescription bottle. The couple’s German shepherd was found in the bathroom closet, while two other dogs were alive.
Authorities have not ruled out foul play but have indicated that the situation appeared suspicious enough to warrant a thorough investigation. The New Mexico Gas Company conducted tests on the home’s gas lines, though no issues were found.
Autopsy results were not available as of Thursday. Hackman’s extensive career in Hollywood began in 1961 with Mad Dog Coll, and his portrayal of Lex Luthor in the Superman films and his role as a determined coach in Hoosiers solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. His Oscar-winning performances in The French Connection (1971) and Unforgiven (1992) remain cornerstones of his legacy.
Hackman, known for his focus on acting rather than celebrity, preferred to stay out of the public eye, often avoiding the social circuit. His tumultuous early years, marked by an abusive father who abandoned the family when Hackman was 13, led him to find solace in films.
In Hollywood, tributes poured in from those who admired Hackman’s talents. Director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Clint Eastwood, and actor Bill Murray all expressed their admiration. Murray fondly recalled working with Hackman on The Royal Tenenbaums, noting his dedication to perfection. Actor Cary Elwes praised Hackman as a “force of nature,” and Steve Toussaint echoed that Hackman’s performances in films like The French Connection, Crimson Tide, and The Conversation were masterclasses in acting.
Arakawa, born in Hawaii in 1959, was a classically trained pianist who met Hackman while working at a California gym in the mid-1980s. The couple moved to Santa Fe by the end of the decade. Arakawa was involved in the local business community, serving as vice president of Pandora’s, a home décor store.
Their home in Santa Fe, featured in Architectural Digest in 1990, was a four-bedroom ranch with sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains. Hackman and Arakawa enjoyed a quiet life in the area, where Hackman also pursued hobbies like painting, deep-sea diving, and writing novels. In his later years, Hackman, who made fewer public appearances, was spotted in mundane situations like pumping gas or grabbing a bite to eat, with his last reported sighting in 2023.
The couple’s peaceful retreat in Santa Fe marked a stark contrast to Hackman’s earlier life in Hollywood, and their deaths have left a significant void in the hearts of those who admired the actor’s craft.
This report was contributed by Associated Press journalists Claire Rush, Mead Gruver, and Bedayn, a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.
