Santa Fe police have stated that no foul play is suspected.
Authorities have confirmed that veteran Hollywood actor Gene Hackman was found dead in his Santa Fe home.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza reported that Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist, were both discovered deceased at their residence. However, he did not provide details on the cause of death.
Mendoza noted that, at this time, foul play is not suspected and that their dog was also found dead alongside them.
When asked by reporters about the possible time of death, Mendoza declined to comment.
In a statement, he said: “All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant.”
Hackman was regarded as a Hollywood legend, best known for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in Superman, Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven, and Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection.
A deeply private individual, Hackman announced his retirement from acting in 2004. He later left Los Angeles and settled in New Mexico.
At the time, he told the press: “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer. I really don’t want to do it any longer.”
Over his career, Hackman took on more than 100 acting roles, though speculation arose that his decision to step away was linked to stress.
He and Betsy Arakawa began dating in the mid-1980s and married in 1991. However, he made it clear that he did not leave his first wife, Faye Maltese, for Arakawa.
“By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love,” he once stated.
Archives/Getty Images
While little is known about the circumstances surrounding Hackman and Betsy Arakawa, fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to the beloved actor and his wife.
One Twitter user wrote: “RIP Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa found dead, marking the end of an era in cinema.”
Another shared: “Honoring the memory of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa. Their impact on cinema and music will not be forgotten.”
A third added: “That is awful news. Truly one of the best actors Hollywood ever gave us.”
Another fan commented: “What a legend. He left behind a legacy of some of the greatest movies of our time.”