Two-time Academy Award winner Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found deceased in their home in Santa Fe Summit, Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, the couple, along with their dog, was discovered with no immediate signs of foul play. However, the sheriff did not provide a cause of death or specify when the couple might have passed.
Hackman and Arakawa had been married since 1991. The actor had celebrated his 95th birthday in late January, but concerns about his health arose following a public sighting last year, where he appeared frail.
With a career spanning over four decades, Hackman built an impressive legacy in Hollywood. He quietly retired from acting in the late 2000s, having previously hinted in a 2004 interview with Larry King that he had no future productions planned.
Over the course of his career, Hackman appeared in more than 70 films, earning numerous accolades. He won two Academy Awards, securing the Best Actor award for his role in The French Connection and the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance as Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.
In 2009, Hackman revealed that a concerning stress test had played a key role in his decision to step away from Hollywood. “The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” he told Empire. “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”
Following his retirement, Hackman pursued more relaxed hobbies, including painting, fishing, and writing.
Reflecting on his writing, he shared, “It’s very relaxing for me. I don’t picture myself as a great writer, but I really enjoy the process.” He also noted that writing provided a different kind of creative satisfaction compared to acting. “It’s one you can kind of manage because you’re sitting there by yourself, as opposed to having 90 people sitting around waiting for you to entertain them,” he added.
Hackman is survived by his three children, Christopher, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne, from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese.
The loss of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa is deeply felt, and their legacy will be remembered. Thoughts and condolences go out to their family and loved ones during this difficult time.
