Santa Fe, New Mexico – Legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, alongside their pet dog. Hackman was 95 years old, while Arakawa was 64.
According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, the couple’s bodies were discovered Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail. While authorities do not currently suspect foul play, the cause of death has not yet been determined.
“This is an active investigation – however, at this time, we do not believe that foul play was a factor,” Mendoza said in a statement reported by PA. “We’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant.”
Deputies arrived at the Old Sunset Trail gated community on Wednesday afternoon to investigate, but it remains unclear whether they were responding to a welfare check or had prior knowledge of the couple’s deaths.
A Storied Career in Hollywood
Born in California in 1930, Hackman served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four-and-a-half years before pursuing a career in acting. Over six decades, he played more than 100 roles, winning two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Silver Bear.
Hackman’s first Oscar win came for his portrayal of Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection (1971), while his second was for Best Supporting Actor as “Little” Bill Daggett in Unforgiven (1992). He also received Oscar nominations for Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and Mississippi Burning (1988).
Other notable roles included playing Lex Luthor in the Superman films of the 1970s and 1980s, as well as starring in Scarecrow (1973), Runaway Jury (2003), The Conversation (1974), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). His final film appearance was in Welcome to Mooseport (2004).
Retirement and Life in New Mexico
Citing heart problems and stress, Hackman stepped away from acting in 2004.
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” he told Empire in 2009. “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”
He later confirmed to Reuters in 2008: “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer.”
Instead, Hackman turned to writing novels, publishing five books between 1999 and 2013, including Wake of the Perdido Star, Justice for None, and Pursuit.
Hackman and Arakawa had been married since 1991 and moved from Los Angeles to New Mexico in 2004. They were last seen in Santa Fe in February 2025.
Hollywood’s Private Legend
Hackman was known for avoiding Hollywood fame and was often described as impatient and private.
In a 1992 interview with All About Actors, he admitted, “It’s probably accurate. The movie business is very stressful… Sure, I get frustrated and angry or upset and all that.”
His death marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of cinematic excellence and a body of work that continues to inspire.
