Tragic Discovery: Gene Hackman and Wife Found Dead in Santa Fe Home

Authorities are sharing more details in the death of Gene Hackman

Following the heartbreaking discovery of the beloved French Connection star, aged 95, and his cherished partner Betsy Arakawa, 64, in our Santa Fe home on February 26th, the esteemed Sheriff Adan Mendoza shared with TMZ that this tragic duo had been absent from life for at least a full day.

In their Santa Fe residence, discovered on February 26 following a neighbor’s wellness check request to the authorities, the married couple (who tied the knot in 1991) and one of their three pets were found deceased. Although the incident is still under investigation as stated by the authorities to NBC News, they suspect no signs of foul play were present.

Nevertheless, Mendoza shared with TMZ that no definitive conclusions had been made, suggesting that the couple’s deaths might have resulted from various possibilities such as a double murder, suicide, an unfortunate accident, or natural causes.

In their house, two more of their dogs were found safe, Mendoza mentioned, yet it’s still uncertain what will happen to the remaining pets. Moreover, the sheriff pointed out that the fire department had been summoned to check for harmful gases which might affect the search process or pose a risk to the officers.

TopMob News has reached out to authorities for additional information but has not yet heard back. 

In the 1980s, the actor moved to Santa Fe and settled there. He made his final film appearance in “Welcome to Mooseport” in 2004. Despite receiving two Academy Awards for his roles in “The French Connection” (Best Actor in 1972) and “Unforgiven” (Best Supporting Actor in 1993), as well as three more nominations during his career, he often spoke about the challenging nature of acting.

What I dislike most in the business is having my photo taken for stills and doing interviews about movies or my work,” he said in 1992, soon after leaving Hollywood. “I find it exhausting, and I don’t do much of it these days.

Although he wasn’t fond of the attention associated with acting, Gene openly expressed his affection for the art and his admirers.

He put it this way: “He believes his most impressive performances are yet to come, that he’s continuously evolving and improving as an actor, and that he has valuable skills left to share. In essence, it boils down to that.

In the words of an alumnus from the Royal Tenenbaums family, “It seems folks believe they have a grasp on who you are due to your prolonged presence, yet it’s heartening to know that they care for you.

For a look back on Gene’s life, keep reading.

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2025-02-27 18:48