Gene Hackman UPDATES: Police release statement on cause of death as actor found dead with wife Betsy Arakawa
OSCAR-winning actor Gene Hackman has been found dead alongside his wife and one of their dogs in his Santa Fe home.
Discoveries made by police have raised a number of questions and an investigation is now underway.
Pills were found scattered around Arakawa's body, a search warrant affidavit reports.
With no sign of foul play or a gas leak, their deaths are being treated as "suspicious".
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“Active” investigation underway
The Santa Fe County Sheriff added that there is an “active investigation” into their tragic death.
“We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail,” cops said in a statement.
“This is an active investigation – however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor.”
Cops in Santa Fe are yet to release the couple’s cause of death.
Making amends
Gene married his second wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa in 1991.
The couple set up home together and it was later reported that her presence helped to mend his relationship with his children.
According to a report in the Chicago Tribune in 1994, Betsy was keen to help him rekindle things so encouraged him to start inviting Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie round to the house.
The moments were said to be “invaluable” to Gene.
In 2020, four years before his retirement from acting, insiders confirmed his relationship with his grown up children – and by then, grandchildren – was firmly back on track.
A source told Closer Weekly: “He wishes he’d been around more for his children, but now he’s close with them and their kids.”
What movie did Hackman win the Oscar for?
At the 1972 Academy Awards, Hackman won his first Oscar for The French Connection.
At the 1993 telecast, he took home the gold for his performance in the Clint Eastwood western Unforgiven.
Over the course of his career, the Academy has nominated him a total of five times.
Hackman was recognized by the organization for his performances in Bonnie and Clyde, I Never Sang For My Father, and Mississippi Burning.
‘Suspicious’ findings at Hackman home
Officials rushed to the couple’s $3.8million home at around 1.45pm yesterday and located both of their bodies.
Hackman, 95, was found fully clothed in a wet room off the kitchen, while Betsy, 64, was in a bathroom.
The couple – married for 34 years – had lived in the area for decades, in a secluded residence off Old Sunset Trail.
Cops are currently labelling their deaths “suspicious” as the door to their home was found ajar but there was no sign of forced entry, according to an affidavit.
Preliminary autopsy findings show ‘no trauma’
In a Thursday statement, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office revealed that autopsies showed no visible injuries on either Hackman or Arakawa, according to .
Officials added that carbon monoxide and toxicology tests are still pending.
The statement read: “In the early hours of Thursday, February 27 2025, Hackman and Arakawa were transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator.
“An autopsy was performed. Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual.
Where was Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy living?
Hackman was residing on a large 12-acre property he and his wife Betsy remodeled and designed in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
He previously owned a 25-acre property in Montecito, California in the 1980s, which he sold for a cool $5.5 million in 1985.
He also had a home in Pebble Beach, California that he sold in 1993.
Animal lover
The world-famous actor was also known to be an animal lover and adopted had German shepherds in 1999.
Gene selflessly adopted a stray dog that came onto his set while filming The Replacements in Baltimore alongside Keanu Reeves.
Further details could take 'weeks'
It could still take up to six weeks for any answers to emerge, Chris Ramirez, spokesperson for the New Mexico medical investigator’s office, told The Sun.
Cops are yet to rule out any possibility related to the tragic triple death, Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza said to .
He said double homicide, suicide, accidental death or natural causes are all being considered.
Grim discoveries
A prescription bottle of pills was located near to Betsy Arakawa, cops announced.
Many tablets were scattered across the floor, they added.
Investigators made a further grim discovery after locating the body of one of the couple's German shepherds inside a bathroom closet just 10ft away from Betsy.
Two other dogs managed to be safely removed from the property, police added.
Hollywood greats pay tribute
Forrest Gump actor Tom Hanks wrote on : "There has never been a ‘Gene Hackman Type.’ There has only been Gene Hackman."
Francis Ford Coppola, the filmmaker behind The Godfather and Dracula, wrote on Instagram: “The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity, I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
Hackman may have "suddenly fallen"
A police report stated: "The deceased male who was found wearing gray sweat pants, a blue in colour long-sleeve t-shirt, brown slippers, and walking-cane.
"Deputy Thomas indicated he observed a pair of sunglasses located near the decedent's left of his body. Based on Deputy Thomas' training and experience he suspected the male individual has suddenly fallen.
"Deputy Thomas advised the male decedent also showed obvious signs of death, similar and consistent with the female decedent."
Gene's clean eating
Betsy kept her husband on a "strict" diet in the years before their deaths, a friend of the late actor claims.
Doug Lanham, Gene's close friend and former business partner, opened up about the couple and said that Betsy closely monitored Gene's eating habits.
Gene's close pal, Doug Lanham told that the actor could only "sneak a cheat meal" when he was out playing golf.
Hall of fame career
Gene’s breakout moment was in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967, where he played Buck Barrow.
He went on to star in Superman movies as well as hit films like Mississippi Burning, Unforgiven, Crimson Tide and The Poseidon Adventure.
In 1972, he scooped the Best Actor gong for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection.
Gene won a second Academy Award in 1993 as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the western flick Unforgiven.
His glittering Hollywood career included more than 100 acting roles.
He received five Academy Award nominations, won two Oscars, bagged two BAFTA nominations and three Golden Globes.
Who was Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa?
Betsy Arakawa was born on December 1, 1961, in Hawaii.
She was 31 years younger than her husband, born on January 30, 1930.
Like her husband, Arakawa was also involved in the arts.
She was a former professional classical pianist and the muse for his first solo fiction book, Payback at Morning Peak.
Did Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa have any children?
Although the pair were married for over thirty years, they had no kids together.
However, Arakawa is the stepmother to Hackman’s three adult children from his first marriage to the late Faye Maltese.
He has a son named Christopher Allen and two daughters, Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne.
Hackman was 'The Greatest'
Jeanne Tripplehorn, who starred alongside the late actor in the 1993 movie The Firm, sang Hackman's praises in an emotional Instagram post.
She wrote: “Gene Hackman. The greatest. An actor unparalleled with a heart of gold.
"He will always have a place in my heart for being not only the best actor one could ever hope to work with but a gentleman who was a source of quiet strength and kindness when I needed it the most.
"I cherish our time together. Blessed beyond words. We will never see the likes of him again.”
Star’s formative years
Hackman binned off plans to pursue a career as a journalist to become an actor.
At 27, he enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse in California, where he formed a tight-knit triangle with Dustin Hoffman and Robert Duvall
“There was something about him that — like he had a secret. You just knew he was going to do something,” .
“There was a kind of feeling of Jack Kerouac at that time — ‘On the Road’ — kids just wanting to have a good time and kind of experience things. It didn’t have anything to do with being successful — just wanting to try this thing and see if it worked.”
‘Losing touch’
Gene even admitted that his relationship with his eldest child, son Christopher, suffered to the point where they “lost touch”.
The actor also told GQ in 2011: “I lost touch with my son in terms of advice early on.
“Maybe it had to do with being gone so much, doing location films when he was at an age where he needed support and guidance.
“It was very tough for me to be gone for three months and then come home and start bossing him around.”
‘Losing touch’
Gene even admitted that his relationship with his eldest child, son Christopher, suffered to the point where they “lost touch”.
The actor also told GQ in 2011: “I lost touch with my son in terms of advice early on.
“Maybe it had to do with being gone so much, doing location films when he was at an age where he needed support and guidance.
“It was very tough for me to be gone for three months and then come home and start bossing him around.”
Early retirement
The Hollywood icon made his final on screen appearance in 2004.
He told Reuters in 2008: “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer.
“I’ve been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don’t want to do it any longer.”
Hollywood was “stressful”
The actor previously spoke about how Hollywood – and his profession – was incredibly “stressful”.
“The business for me is very stressful,” he said once when touching on how a doctor had given him a health warning.
Gene previously underwent surgery after suffering problems with his heart.
'Suspicious' findings at Hackman home
Officials rushed to the couple's $3.8million home at around 1.45pm yesterday and located both of their bodies.
Hackman, 95, was found fully clothed in a wet room off the kitchen, while Betsy, 64, was in a bathroom.
The couple - married for 34 years - had lived in the area for decades, in a secluded residence off Old Sunset Trail.
Cops are currently labelling their deaths "suspicious" as the door to their home was found ajar but there was no sign of forced entry, according to an affidavit.
'Suspicious' findings at Hackman home
Officials rushed to the couple's $3.8million home at around 1.45pm yesterday and located both of their bodies.
Hackman, 95, was found fully clothed in a wet room off the kitchen, while Betsy, 64, was in a bathroom.
The couple - married for 34 years - had lived in the area for decades, in a secluded residence off Old Sunset Trail.
Cops are currently labelling their deaths "suspicious" as the door to their home was found ajar but there was no sign of forced entry, according to an affidavit.
Preliminary autopsy findings show 'no trauma'
In a Thursday statement, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office revealed that autopsies showed no visible injuries on either Hackman or Arakawa, according to .
Officials added that carbon monoxide and toxicology tests are still pending.
The statement read: "In the early hours of Thursday, February 27 2025, Hackman and Arakawa were transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator.
"An autopsy was performed. Initial findings noted no external trauma to either individual.
Dustin Hoffman bids farewell to his old friend
The duo cut their teeth at the Pasadena Playhouse in the 50s before embarking on legendary careers.
"I met Gene in acting school, at the Pasadena Playhouse, when he was 27 and I was 19. We used to play congas together on the roof, trying to be like our hero Marlon Brando," Hoffman said.
"And Gene was like Brando, in that he brought something unprecedented to our craft, something people didn’t immediately understand as genius."
"Powerful, subtle, brilliant. A giant among actors. I miss him already."
