Authorities discovered the bodies of 95-year-old actor Gene Hackman and his 63-year-old wife, Betsy Arakawa, in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26, 2025. A maintenance worker, alarmed after getting no response at the door, contacted local security, leading to the grim discovery.
Hackman was found in the mudroom, while Arakawa was located in a bathroom, with prescription pills scattered nearby. One of their three dogs, a German Shepherd, was also found dead close to Arakawa; the other two dogs were found alive on the property. Investigators noted no signs of external trauma or foul play, and there was no indication of gas or carbon monoxide leaks in the home. It appeared the couple had been deceased for several days before they were found. The cause of death remains under investigation.
Hackman, a legendary two-time Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in *The French Connection* and *Unforgiven*, retired from acting in 2004 and later pursued a successful writing career. He and Arakawa, his wife since 1991, had lived in Santa Fe for many years.
RIP Gene Hackman 1930-2025
Such a brilliant actor. pic.twitter.com/UNPdHvWubr
— I❤️Nostalgia '𝕏' (@il0venostalgia) February 27, 2025
Tributes from Hollywood poured in following the news, with director Clint Eastwood remembering Hackman as “intense and instinctive” and calling him a “dear friend who will be greatly missed.”