Oscar-Winning Actor Gene Hackman and Wife Found Dead in Their New Mexico Home

Oscar-Winning Actor Gene Hackman, Wife, and Dog Found Dead in New Mexico Home

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead in their New Mexico home, authorities confirmed Thursday.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office stated that foul play is not suspected, but the cause of death remains undisclosed as investigations continue.

Discovery and Investigation

Deputies arrived at the couple’s residence around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday for a welfare check and found Hackman, 95, Arakawa, 63, and their dog deceased, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Avila.

Hollywood Icon and Award-Winning Career

Hackman was one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, known for playing villains, heroes, and antiheroes across various genres. He was a five-time Academy Award nominee, winning Best Actor for “The French Connection” (1972) and Best Supporting Actor for “Unforgiven” (1992). His passing comes just four days before this year’s Oscars ceremony.

A Private Life in New Mexico

Hackman and Arakawa met in the 1980s while she worked at a California gym. They later moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, settling into a 2,300-square-foot Southwestern-style ranch in a gated community overlooking the Rocky Mountains.

The home, built in 2000, was valued at just over $1 million, a modest estate compared to its neighboring $7.9 million property.

Beyond Hollywood: Writing and Local Presence

Following his retirement from acting in the early 2000s, Hackman focused on writing, co-authoring three novels, including the swashbuckler Wake of the Perdido Star (1999), and later publishing two solo works, concluding with Pursuit (2013).

In the 1990s, he served on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and was often seen in Santa Fe, a city known for its artistic and cultural scene.

In later years, he became more reclusive. However, his rare public outings—whether attending a 2018 performance at the Lensic Performing Arts Center or grabbing a chicken sandwich at Wendy’s in 2023—still captured media attention.

A Quiet Retirement

Hackman, who retired from acting nearly 20 years ago, was known for avoiding the Hollywood spotlight. He and Arakawa, who had no children together, shared a love for German shepherds.

In a 2020 interview with Empire magazine, Hackman revealed their simple lifestyle, enjoying low-budget films rented by Arakawa:

“We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce.”

Authorities have yet to release further details about the deaths. An email to Hackman’s publicist has not been immediately returned.

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