Gene Hackman's Wife Betsy Arakawa: The Pianist's Untold Story

Though gone, Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s love will live on.

On February 26, it was confirmed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office to NBC News that a pair of individuals, one aged 95 and the other 64, along with their pet dog, were discovered deceased in their residence located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Although the tragic nature of their joint demise suggests something more sinister, the Sheriff’s office stated in their announcement that “there’s no indication that foul play was involved” in the couple’s deaths. However, they emphasized that the investigation into the incident continues unabated.

In the mid-80s, the couple started dating, having first crossed paths at a California gym where Arakawa was working temporarily. Previously, both were married to Faye Maltese; they had three children together. The pair tied the knot in 1991.

Hackman himself openly discussed the breakdown of his initial marriage with Faye, marked by periods of separation, as reported by The New York Times, culminating in a divorce that occurred in 1986.

In a 1989 interview with the New York Times, he admitted that acting made him incredibly self-centered. He explained how, after spending years yearning to be acknowledged for his talent, when parts started being offered, it was difficult to refuse any of them. This was challenging even though he had a family, as many roles required him to be away from them for three or four months at a stretch.

To be completely candid, my ardor for Arakawa was boundless, yet our age gap – me being three decades her elder – was merely a number in our eyes. Contrary to some speculations, I unequivocally affirm that there was no causality between us, and our bond transcended the conventional understanding of cause and effect.

He clarified to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 2021 that he didn’t choose a younger woman over his actual wife in real life. Instead, he explained that their relationship faded away. They lost connection with each other. He pointed out that maintaining a marriage in this line of work requires a lot of effort and affection.

In Santa Fe, a city that enchanted Hackman during his film work there (as he expressed to Architectural Digest in 1990), Hackman and Arakawa constructed their ideal home. It is worth noting that Arakawa, originally from Hawaii, was a co-owner of a home furnishing business, as reported by Newsweek. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Arakawa had established a career as a skilled pianist in the classical realm.

I, a devoted admirer, couldn’t help but notice that during the makeover of their abode, the dynamic duo – Hackman and Arakawa – were deeply immersed in every step of the process. They were frequently present on-site or, when off-site, relentless in their pursuit to keep tabs via a barrage of phone calls to the team.

According to Hackman, we acquired several items for decorating our house in Santa Fe. Additional pieces were procured from auctions in New York, a vintage store in Germany that my wife and I stumbled upon, as well as from Los Angeles.

In that location, the couple lived their very secluded lives, savoring their traditional Friday night dates and avoiding public attention while Hackman explored other creative avenues like painting and literature. Regarding his writing, the Academy Award winner—who authored several novels prior to his demise—often acknowledged his wife’s significant role in facilitating his writing endeavors.

In an interview with “Writer’s Bone” back in 2014, he humorously explained that if he has a particular writing style, it was developed through numerous revisions, helpful advice from friends, and his wife’s persistent, detailed reviews.

For a look back at Hackman’s life, and the journey that led him to Arakawa, keep reading.

2025-02-27 16:47

Gene Hackman’s Wife Betsy Arakawa: The Pianist’s Untold Story

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