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

Actor Gene Hackman arrives with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, for the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Santa Fe authorities have confirmed that legendary Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead in their New Mexico home on Wednesday afternoon. While foul play is not suspected, the exact circumstances of their deaths remain undisclosed as an ongoing investigation continues.

According to Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Avila, deputies arrived at the residence around 1:45 p.m. for a welfare check and discovered the 95-year-old Hackman, 63-year-old Arakawa, and their dog deceased.

Gene Hackman, winner of Best Supporting Actor at academy awards in March 1993. (AP Photo, File)

Gene Hackman was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of his time, known for his gruff yet charismatic performances across a range of genres. His career spanned over four decades, with notable roles in classics like The French Connection (1971), Unforgiven (1992), The Conversation (1974), Mississippi Burning (1988), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).

Hackman won two Academy Awards, including Best Actor for The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven. His passing comes just four days before the 2024 Academy Awards ceremony.

Gene Hackman holds his Cecil B. DeMille award at the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

Hackman and Arakawa, a classically trained pianist from Hawaii, met in the mid-1980s when she was working at a California gym. They later settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they lived in a large Southwestern-style ranch offering stunning views of the Rocky Mountains.

After retiring from acting in the early 2000s, Hackman co-wrote three novels, including Wake of the Perdido Star (1999) and Pursuit (2013). He was also active in the local art scene and served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

Actor Gene Hackman gives fictional Hickory High basketball players instructions during filming of the final game of the movie “Hoosiers” at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler University campus, Friday, Dec. 6, 1985 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Strickland, File)

While he largely avoided the Hollywood social circuit, Hackman was occasionally spotted in Santa Fe, attending local performances and running everyday errands. His final public appearances made headlines, including reports of him pumping gas and getting a chicken sandwich at Wendy’s in 2023.

Despite his Hollywood success, Hackman once struggled financially. In a 2000 interview, he revealed that he had been millions in debt, relying on small acting gigs to recover from failed tax shelters.

Actor Gene Hackman, star of the comedy film "The Royal Tenenbaums", poses at the film's premiere in Hollywood, Los Angeles, U.S. December 6, 2001 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, U.S. REUTERS

A lifelong Democrat, Hackman was once placed on President Richard Nixon’s secret political opponent list. He was known for his down-to-earth lifestyle, often enjoying low-budget films with Arakawa.

Hackman had three children—Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie—with his first wife, Faye Maltese, whom he was married to from 1956 to 1986. Maltese passed away in 2017. He and Arakawa did not have children together but were known for their love of German Shepherds.

Hackman’s death marks the end of an era for Hollywood, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of acting excellence.