The Hollywood legend and classical pianist had been married for 34 years
Police have confirmed the heartbreaking news that actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead at their New Mexico home.
The couple, married for 34 years, lived very private lives. Hackman, a double Oscar winner, retired from Hollywood in 1990 and moved to Santa Fe, where he focused on writing. Arakawa and Hackman had kept their lives largely out of the public eye following his departure from the film industry.
On Wednesday (February 26), Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that the couple and their pet dog were found dead at their residence on Sunset Trail.
In a statement, he said, “All I can confirm is that we’re conducting a preliminary death investigation and are awaiting approval for a search warrant.”
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa had been married for 34 years (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
The police department does not suspect foul play in their deaths, but an investigation is still underway.
A cause and time of death is yet to be reported.
Hackman’s last public appearance
Hackman and Arakawa were last seen publicly on March 28, 2024, having dinner at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe. The actor, known for roles in Superman, Unforgiven, and The French Connection, was photographed walking with a cane while holding his wife’s arm.
The star underwent surgery for angina
The actor starred in The French Connection (Bettmann/Getty Images)
Following a celebrated six-decade career, Hackman retired from acting in 2004 at 74. His final films were Runaway Jury and Welcome to Mooseport. Hackman later admitted that health issues prompted his decision to embrace a quieter life. “The straw that broke the camel’s back was a stress test I took in New York,” he explained in a 2009 interview with Empire.
“The doctor told me my heart wasn’t in good enough shape to handle any stress,” Hackman shared. He had previously undergone angioplasty, a procedure where a balloon is inserted to open blocked arteries.
Hackman wanted to be remembered as ‘a decent actor’
Hackman in 1973 (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
In a 2011 interview with GQ, 81-year-old Hackman shared how he hoped to be remembered. “As a decent actor,” he said. “Someone who tried to portray what was given to them honestly.” He added, “I don’t really think about it much, to be honest. At my age, I probably should.”
Hackman was married once before
Hackman was previously married to Faye Maltese, with whom he had three children: son Christopher Allen and daughters Leslie Anne and Elizabeth Jean. They were married for 30 years before divorcing in 1986.
Hackman and ex-wife Faye Maltese (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Hackman was open about his difficult relationship with his children, explaining to The Irish Independent in 2000: “I couldn’t always be home when they were growing up, and living in California, my success was always looming over them.”
In his GQ interview, he shed further light on their dynamic.
When asked what advice he would give his son Christopher, Hackman replied, “I lost touch with my son in terms of advice early on. Maybe it was because I was away so often, filming on location when he needed support and guidance.
“It was hard for me to be gone for three months, then come home and try to start giving him orders.”
Arakawa and Hackman’s marriage
Hackman and Arakawa had a 32-year age gap (Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
Hackman and Arakawa started dating in the mid-’80s after meeting at the gym where she worked part-time, despite their 32-year age difference. The actor clarified any misconceptions to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, stating their relationship didn’t overlap with his marriage to his first wife.
Unlike his character Harry Mackenzie in Twice in a Lifetime (1985), Hackman clarified, “I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. In this business, marriage requires a lot of work and love.”
Featured Image Credit: Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Source: UNILAD
