Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and his wife found dead at home

Thursday 27 February 2025 - 11:31

Gene Hackman, the renowned Oscar-winning actor, and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday, according to multiple U.S. media outlets.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's office, cited by various sources, has not confirmed the cause of death, but stated that no signs of foul play were detected. The body of their dog was also found at the scene.

Gene Hackman, aged 95, was a Hollywood giant, last seen on-screen in the 2004 film Welcome to Mooseport. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, was 63 years old. Born on January 30, 1930, Hackman won two Oscars, including Best Actor in 1971 for his role in The French Connection, portraying legendary detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle. In 1993, he also won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, where he played an ex-hitman turned sheriff.

Throughout his career, Hackman collaborated with many iconic filmmakers and actors, such as Francis Ford Coppola on The Conversation, Christopher Reeve in Superman (1978), and Al Pacino in the lesser-known The Scarecrow. Hackman often stated that The Scarecrow was his favorite film of his career.

A private individual, Hackman rarely gave interviews and kept a low profile in the closed-off world of Hollywood. He once explained, "In Hollywood, everything revolves around movies: the conversations, the people you meet, everyday life. It’s totally narcissistic. You end up forgetting why you do this job." In 2008, he announced his retirement from the film industry.