Actor Gene Hackman & Wife Betsy Arakawa Found Dead In Santa Fe Home

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe, according to police in New Mexico.

“We do not believe foul play was a factor in their deaths however, exact cause of death has not been determined at this time,” said Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office.

Local reports said Hackman’s dog had also been found dead alongside the couple at their Santa Fe Home.

Hackman and classical pianist Arakawa, 63, had been married since 1991.

The 95-year-old Hollywood legend won Oscars for The French Connection (1971) and Unforgiven (1992), and was Oscar-nominated for roles in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and Mississippi Burning (1988).

Hackman was also celebrated for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and its sequel Superman II, with other credits including The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Scarecrow (1972), The Conversation (1974), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Under Fire (1983), Power (1986), Loose Cannons (1990), The Firm (1993), The Quick and the Dead (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Enemy of the State (1998), Behind Enemy Lines (2001), and Runaway Jury (2003).

He had not been in the public eye for some two decades having retired from acting after starring in Welcome to Mooseport (2004).

Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California in 1930 and held dreams of becoming an actor from an early age.

At the age of 16 he lied about his age and enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and went on to serve as a field-radio operating, spending time in China.

He was discharged in 1951 and studied journalism and television production at the University of Illinois, before returning to California.

He cut his acting teeth the Pasadena Playhouse in California where he became friends with Dustin Hoffman.

Alongside stage work, he secured bit roles in the movie Mad Dog Coll as well as TV series such as Tallahassee 7000, Route 66 and Naked City.

Cntinuing to take small film and TV roles, Hackman also spent time on Broadway throughout the 1960s, securing his first credited role in Lilith, starring Jean Seberg and Warren Beatty, and also appeared in the long-running show Poor Richard (1964–65).

Hackman started to rise in prominence in the early 1970s after he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role in I Never Sang For My Father and then achieved stardom for his Oscar-winning performance as New York City Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection in 1971.