Legendary actor Gene Hackman and Wife Found Dead in NM
SANTA FE, N.M. — Acclaimed actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered deceased in their New Mexico residence on Wednesday afternoon, ABC News confirmed.
The couple was found during a welfare check initiated by a concerned neighbor, according to Denise Avila, Public Information Officer for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. A dog was also found dead at the scene.
Authorities have stated that foul play is not suspected, and an investigation is ongoing.
Hackman, a celebrated Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in “The French Connection,” “The Conversation,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums,” among many other iconic films, was 95 years old.
Renowned for his versatility, Hackman’s ability to portray a wide array of characters across genres made him a beloved figure in Hollywood. From his comical yet menacing portrayal of Lex Luthor in 1978’s “Superman” to his poignant role as a disgraced basketball coach in “Hoosiers” (1986), and his hilarious turn as a conservative senator in “The Birdcage” (1996), Hackman’s career was marked by memorable performances.
He particularly excelled in roles depicting flawed authority figures, bringing depth and gravitas to characters like Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection” (1971), for which he won his first Oscar, and Sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven” (1992), which earned him his second Academy Award.
Despite his fame, Hackman was known for his humility and reluctance to engage in Hollywood’s social scene. He once remarked, “Actors tend to be shy people,” in a 1988 interview with Film Comment. “There is perhaps a component of hostility in that shyness, and to reach a point where you don’t deal with others in a hostile or angry way, you choose this medium for yourself.”
Hackman retired from acting in his 70s, choosing to focus on other passions such as writing novels and enjoying life on his ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He often expressed a preference for the serene view of the Colorado Rockies over revisiting his own films on television. “I’ll watch maybe five minutes of it,” he told Time magazine, “and I’ll get this icky feeling, and I turn the channel.”
Born on January 30, 1931, in San Bernardino, California, Hackman grew up in Danville, Illinois, in a troubled household. His father abandoned the family when Hackman was 13, leaving a lasting impact on him. He found solace in movies, idolizing actors like Errol Flynn and James Cagney. At 16, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines by lying about his age.
Hackman’s personal life included two marriages. He married Fay Maltese in 1956, with whom he had three children before their divorce in the mid-1980s. In 1991, he married Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist of Japanese descent.
Hackman’s legacy as an actor, characterized by his dedication to his craft and his ability to bring authenticity to every role, remains unparalleled in Hollywood history.
“I’ll watch maybe five minutes of it,” he once told Time magazine, “and I’ll get this icky feeling, and I turn the channel.”
(Information from the Associated Press)
