Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, authorities have confirmed.
The body of their pet dog was also discovered at the property, per Sky News.
A statement from Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza read: “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail. This is an active investigation; however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor.”
Mendoza confirmed the news to local media just after midnight on Wednesday (February 26).
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office stated that foul play is not currently suspected, though the exact cause of death remains undetermined, per BBC News.
“All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant,” Mendoza said.
Hackman was 95 years old at the time of his death, and wife Betsy was 63.
Deputies discovered the bodies of a man in his 90s and a woman in her 60s, but positive identification was initially pending as law enforcement waited on a search warrant, The Guardian reports.
“We’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation,” Sheriff Mendoza said, assuring the public, “I want to assure the community and neighborhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone.”
A Legendary Career Spanning Decades
Hackman, 95, was one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, known for his commanding presence and versatility across a range of genres.
Over a career spanning more than 40 years, he won two Academy Awards — one for Best Actor in The French Connection (1971) and another for Best Supporting Actor in Unforgiven (1992). He also received Oscar nominations for Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and Mississippi Burning (1988).
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The former Marine, who had lived in Santa Fe since the 1980s, was also known for playing Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and its sequels, as well as starring in The Conversation (1974), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), and Crimson Tide (1995).
His final film role was in the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport, after which he retired from acting.
In addition to his film career, Hackman became an author, co-writing several historical fiction novels before releasing two solo efforts. His last book, Pursuit, was a crime thriller published in 2013.
When reflecting on his life in a 2011 interview, Hackman simply stated: “He tried. I think that’d be fairly accurate.”
A Private Life in Santa Fe
Hackman married Arakawa in 1991, and the couple lived a quiet life outside of the public eye in their Santa Fe home.
Arakawa, 63, was a classical pianist, and the two were known for their low-profile lifestyle, despite Hackman’s fame.
Regarding his legendary acting career versus the pressures of fame, Hackman once stated: “I was trained to be an actor, not a star. I was trained to play roles, not to deal with fame and agents and lawyers and the press.
“It really costs me a lot emotionally to watch myself on-screen. I think of myself, and feel like I’m quite young, and then I look at this old man with the baggy chins and the tired eyes and the receding hairline and all that.”
Hackman, who was previously married to Faye Maltese, is survived by three children from his first marriage.
The circumstances surrounding the couple’s deaths remain under investigation.
Our thoughts go out to their family, loved ones, and fans at this time.
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