Suspense As Hollywood Legend Gene Hackman, Wife, And Dog Found Dead At Home

Gene Hackman, the legendary actor known for his powerful performances, has passed away at the age of 95. His wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, 64, was also found dead alongside him at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their dog was discovered deceased as well.

Authorities confirmed that deputies arrived at the residence on Wednesday afternoon around 1:45 p.m. and found the couple. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying, “Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time, however exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.”

Hackman had a distinguished career spanning over 60 years, starring in more than 80 films. He won two Academy Awards, first as Best Actor for his role as Popeye Doyle in The French Connection (1971) and later as Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven (1993). He was also nominated for his performances in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1971), and Mississippi Burning (1988).

Born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, Hackman faced a difficult childhood. His father left the family when he was a teenager, and his mother later died in a fire. Reflecting on his upbringing, Hackman once said, “Dysfunctional families have sired a number of pretty good actors.”

At 16, he joined the U.S. Marines by lying about his age. After leaving the military, he studied journalism before pursuing acting at the Pasadena Playhouse in California. While training, he befriended Dustin Hoffman and Robert Duvall. Despite early struggles, Hackman eventually built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.

Hackman played a variety of roles, from a small-town basketball coach in Hoosiers (1986) to the iconic villain Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and its sequels. He also starred in The Conversation (1974), Scarecrow (1973), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001). Critics admired his performances, with The Guardian stating, “Even at their jauntiest, Hackman’s performances have volcanic undercurrents.”

Despite his success, Hackman never sought fame. He once admitted that he was unsure of where his Oscar trophies were. In his later years, he preferred a quiet life, stepping away from acting in the early 2000s. Speaking about his retirement, he said, “I miss the actual acting part of it as it’s what I did for almost 60 years and I really loved that. But the business for me is very stressful … and it had gotten to a point where I just didn’t feel like I wanted to do it anymore.”

Hackman spent his final years in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was previously married to Faye Maltese, with whom he had three children: Christopher, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne. Maltese passed away in 2017. He married Arakawa in 1991.

The investigation into Hackman and his wife’s deaths is ongoing, but authorities have ruled out foul play for now.
Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG