Hollywood Legend Gene Hackman Found Dead Alongside Wife And Dog At Santa Fe Home

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman, the two-time Academy Award-winning actor and defining screen presence of the 20th century, was found dead alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday.

Hackman was 95 and Arakawa, a classical pianist, was 63. Their pet dog was also found dead at the scene.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the news early Thursday, telling local media there were “no immediate concerns about foul play,” though a cause of death remains unknown.

“We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail,” Mendoza said, adding that authorities are conducting “a preliminary death investigation.”

A titan of cinema, Hackman redefined the Hollywood leading man with his performances in classics like The French Connection, Unforgiven, Superman: The Movie, and Mississippi Burning.

His portrayal of morally complex antiheroes and steely authority figures made him one of the most respected actors of his generation. Across his six-decade career, he picked up two Oscars, two BAFTAs, four Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Hackman eventually stepped away from acting in 2004, citing heart issues, and lived quietly in New Mexico ever since.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” he told Empire in 2009. “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”

Hackman and Arakawa, who had been married since 1991, moved to Santa Fe from Los Angeles in 2004, settling into a quiet life away from the industry’s glare.

The reclusive actor rarely gave interviews in his later years. However, even after leaving the spotlight, Hackman turned to writing, authoring several historical novels.