Renowned actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
The couple’s dog was also found dead at the scene. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza reported no immediate signs of foul play; however, the cause of death remains under investigation.
A search warrant affidavit described the deaths as “suspicious,” noting the front door was unsecured, an open pill bottle with scattered pills, and a moved heater within the residence.
While Hackman’s daughter suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, authorities found no obvious gas leaks. Both bodies showed signs of advanced decomposition.
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, was celebrated for his roles in films such as “The French Connection,” “Unforgiven,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.” He retired from acting in 2004 to focus on writing and painting.
Hollywood figures, including Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, and Tom Hanks, have expressed their admiration and sorrow over Hackman’s passing, remembering him as one of cinema’s greatest actors.Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist, married Hackman in 1991.
The couple resided in Santa Fe since the late 1980s and were active in the local cultural scene, particularly with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.
The investigation into their deaths is ongoing, with autopsies pending to determine the exact causes.
Authorities continue to explore all possibilities surrounding the circumstances of this tragic event.