Legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa's bodies were discovered on 26 February
On 27 February, The Royal Tenenbaums star Hackman, 95, and his classically trained pianist wife Arakawa, 63, were found deceased at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by authorities.
The couple's deaths - as well as the death of one of their dogs - was not initially believed to be suspicious; however, authorities are still stumped over the cause of their deaths, with the pair believed to have been deceased for some time before being discovered.
Authorities in New Mexico are currently investigating the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Gene Hackman and wife found dead
Authorities have since deemed the case 'suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation'.
In a new update on the investigation, it's been revealed that officers made a mix-up during identification of the couple's dogs. According to a report shared by USA Today, police initially stated the deceased dog was a German Shepherd, leading many close to the couple to believe it was their dog Bear.
However, an animal chiropractor who worked with the couple has revealed the pup is alive. The outlet also revealed that it was Zinna, a 12-year-old reddish Australian Kelpie mixed breed, who was found dead at the property.
Bear and Nikita, the couple's third dog, have since been taken to a local animal shelter. The owner of Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society has since confirmed that they are both in their care.
Responding to the reports of a mix-up in the initial police report, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Denise Womack-Avila told the outlet that she wasn't aware of the mistaken identity, but suggested investigators may have accidentally misidentified the breed.
"Our deputies do not deal with canines on a daily basis and I cannot currently speak to the condition or state of the dog’s body upon discovery," she said in a statement.
The couple were dedicated dog lovers (Facebook)
This suggestion matches up to the initial a search warrant from officers, which stated authorities 'continued to search the residence where they then observed/found a deceased brown in colour German-Shepard (sic) canine'.
Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of Hackman and Arakawa's deaths.
According to Sheriff Fe sheriff Adan Mendoza, the couple were discovered by maintenance workers at the property and appeared to have been dead for some time, with their bodies found partially mummified in separate rooms.
Arakawa's body was discovered in the bathroom alongside various pills, which police have since deemed 'suspicious enough' to warrant a thorough investigation, while Hackman was found in the home's mudroom alongside his sunglasses and walking cane.
LADbible has contacted the Santa Fe Sheriff Department's spokesperson for further comment.
Featured Image Credit: (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Topics: Celebrity News, Gene Hackman, US News
Brenna Cooper
Updated 07:18 28 Feb 2025 GMTPublished 08:22 27 Feb 2025 GMT
Hollywood legend Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa found dead at home
The pair were found alongside their dog Santa Fe home
Hollywood legend Gene Hackman, 95, his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, and their dog have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The news was confirmed by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, who added that no signs of foul play have been found.
"We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail," he said. "This is an active investigation - however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor."
Authorities are yet to confirm a cause of death.
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home (Vera Anderson/WireImage)
Hackman had enjoyed a glittering career in Hollywood which spanned over six decades and saw him win numerous awards, including Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globe awards.
Born in 1930, Hackman started his acting career during the late 1950s and 60s before getting his breakout role in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde, which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards. He would go on to win awards for his roles in The French Connection (1972), Unforgiven (1992) and The Royal Tenenbaums (2002).
He is also known for playing the role of Lex Luthor in various Superman films, Hackman retired from acting in 2004, citing stress on his heart as the reason.
"The straw that broke the camel's back was actually a stress test that I took in New York," he told Empire in 2009.
"The doctor advised me that my heart wasn't in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress."
Arakawa was a retired pianist and Hackman's second wife, he was previously married Faye Maltese, with the former couple sharing three children Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne Hackman.
Hackman and Arakawa tied the knot in 1991 (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Tributes to Hackman have since begun to pour in online, as fans paid their respects to the couple.
"Ah, Gene Hackman. The finest screen actor ever, I think. Not a single duff performance, in a long, long career. And the best delivery ever of a single word: when he says 'Cigars!' In Young Frankenstein," wrote comedian Dara Ó Briain on X.
"Gene was one of the greatest actors of his, or anyone's generation. He was a powerhouse, as adept at comedy as he was drama. Today is a very sad day, we've lost a legend. Gene was a giant of cinema," a second person penned, while a third added: "RIP Gene Hackman. One of the all-time greats. Never gave less than his all in everything."
LADbible Group has approached Hackman's representatives and Santa Fe County Police for comment.
Featured Image Credit: (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
Topics: Celebrity, TV and Film, US News, Gene Hackman
Brenna Cooper
Updated 10:47 27 Feb 2025 GMTPublished 10:44 27 Feb 2025 GMT
Gene Hackman made rare public appearance with wife Betsy Arakawa last year as pair are found dead at home
Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead at their residence in New Mexico
"We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail," Santa Fe County said in a statement.
"This is an active investigation - however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor."
Gene Hackman made rare public appearance in March 2024
Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead at their residence in New Mexico yesterday (SplashNews.com)
Hackman and his wife made their first public appearance together in 21 years last March.
Pictures show the pair, who have been married since 1991, leaving a Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The two-time Oscar winner was seen holding on to his wife's arm while using his other hand to lean on his cane.
According to reports, the Royal Tenenbaums actor first met Arakawa, originally from Hawaii, at a fitness centre in LA, where she worked part-time. They started dating in 1984.
Hackman divorced his first wife Faye Maltese, whom he married in 1956, in 1986.
They shared children Leslie Anne, Elizabeth Jean and Christopher Allen.
Hackman retired from acting in 2004
Gene Hackman Betsy Arakawa pictured during The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2003 (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
The movie star, known for his roles in Mississippi Burning and Behind Enemy Lines, pretty much left the spotlight after retiring from acting in 2004 due to health complications.
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” the actor explained to Empire in 2009.
“The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”
Throughout his career, Hackman appeared in 79 feature films from 1961 to 2004.
During that period, the celebrated actor won two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, four Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild award.
The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola has been leading the tributes, having worked with Hackman on The Conversation in 1974.
"The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution," he said.
LADbible Group has contacted Hackman's representatives and Santa Fe County Police for comment.
Featured Image Credit: SplashNews.com
Topics: Gene Hackman, Celebrity
Anish Vij
Updated 09:50 27 Feb 2025 GMTPublished 09:31 27 Feb 2025 GMT
Inside Gene Hackman's marriage to Betsy Arakawa as actor is found dead next to wife at home
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home in New Mexico
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead in their New Mexico home.
The two-time Oscar winner, known for his roles in Superman and Mississippi Burning, has passed away at the age of 95, while his wife was 63.
The couple, who had been married since 1991, were found dead alongside their dog.
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead at their home in New Mexico (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
"We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail," Santa Fe County said in a statement.
"This is an active investigation - however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor."
Gene Hackman's marriage to Betsy Arakawa
Arakawa, from Hawaii, reportedly met the Royal Tenenbaums actor at a fitness centre in LA, where she worked as a part-time employee.
In 1984 they started dating and eventually got married seven years later.
This came as Hackman divorced from Faye Maltese, with the pair marrying in 1956 and finalising their split in 1986.
They shared children Leslie Anne, Elizabeth Jean and Christopher Allen.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa pictured in 2001 (Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Meanwhile, Hackman and Arakawa never had kids of their own.
“He wishes he’d been around more for his children, but now he’s close with them and their kids,” a source once told Closer Weekly.
Prior to his death, the source said the pair lived a quiet life together after Hackman quit Hollywood in 2004.
“His health is good, he still bicycles, does yard work and he’s a great handyman,” they added.
“After all the drama of Gene’s career, he loves the peaceful life he shares with the lovely Betsy.”
Speaking to Empire in 2009, Hackman said in his retirement he enjoyed 'DVDs that my wife rents; we like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce'.
He also said the couple enjoyed watching Comedy Central together every Friday, in particular Eddie Izzard's standup.
In April 2024, they made a rare public appearance together in Santa Fe, as the source said: “He looked a little grizzled, but in good shape.”
Hackman, who was using a cane, was seen leaving a restaurant with his wife.
Why Gene Hackman quit acting
Hackman retired from acting in 2004 (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York”, the film star explained to Empire in 2009.
“The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”
Throughout his career, Hackman appeared in 79 feature films from 1961 to 2004.
During that period, the celebrated actor won two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, four Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild award.
"Ah, Gene Hackman. The finest screen actor ever, I think. Not a single duff performance, in a long, long career. And the best delivery ever of a single word: when he says 'Cigars!' In Young Frankenstein," one tribute posted on X read.
"Gene Hackman’s about as good as it gets, a legend. Could be playful, menacing, could still be so vulnerable under his gruff exterior and he never ever seemed like he was acting, a total natural. Incredible face, incredible hairline, they don’t create stars like him anymore. RIP," another added.
LADbible Group has contacted Hackman's representatives and Santa Fe County Police for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Gene Hackman
Anish Vij
Published 10:42 4 Mar 2025 GMT
Gene Hackman's neighbour makes admission days after he was found dead next to wife
Hackman and Arakawa's neighbours spoke about the couple's lives before they were found dead in their Santa Fe home
Gene Hackman's neighbour has made a sweeping statement about the late actor and his wife, after they were found dead in different rooms of their own home.
Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found in their Santa Fe mansion last Wednesday (26 February), with evidence pointing towards the pair being dead for over a week before being found.
The 95-year-old two-time Oscar winner was found in a mudroom, partially mummified, with his sunglasses and cane on the floor, while Arakawa was found in the bathroom with bloating on her face and mummification in her hands and feet.
Sheriff Fe sheriff Adan Mendoza previously confirmed the deaths, saying: "We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail."
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Morgan Freeman presented a tribute to the late Hackman at this year's Oscars, as members of the film industry mourned his loss.
Hackman starred in over 70 movies, and resided in New Mexico, USA, following the end of his acting career.
While Sheriff Mendoza said they 'did not believe that foul play was a factor', he later revealed that the pills found next to Arakawa's body was a 'significant' piece of evidence as investigators also found one of their three dogs dead in a closet.
On Friday last week (28 February), he also said that Hackman's pacemaker recorded its final heartbeat on 17 February, meaning it was 'a very good assumption' that it was the last day of his life.
There was also no carbon monoxide found in their bodies, dismissing any theories of a gas leak being the cause of death.
Now, almost a week on from their discovery, their neighbours have spoken up about the Hollywood legend, and how much they saw him.
The couple's neighbours have spoken out about how often they were seen (Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
While the exact causes of death are being investigated, the case has presented a lot of questions, such as how the couple's deaths weren't discovered for over a week.
Speaking to the New York Times, members of their gated private community five miles from Sante Fe revealed that they barely saw the celebrity couple.
James Everett, who lived part-time in a house next door for around five years, said: "They have a gate, and we have a gate, and we just have never even seen each other."
Bud Hamilton, who lived in the other house next door for around 20 years, revealed that they only had dinner together once in that time.
Harvey Chalker, who has lived in the area for a considerable amount of time, said of the one time he met Hackman: "He wanted to be quiet, he didn't want to be bothered, and I don't blame him."
He said that was their only encounter, when he bought hiking shoes from his shop.
Hackman had a storied career in Hollywood before opting for the quiet life in Santa Fe (Screen Archives/Getty Images)
Another nearby neighbour, Fernando Miranda, lived near the couple since 2018 and recalled being in the neighbourhood on 17 February, the reported day of their deaths, saying it was 'saddening' that the couple may have passed away then.
Beau Theriot is another homeowner that visits his house in the neighbourhood a few times away, recalling the time he saw Hackman and Arakawa walking down the road a number of years ago: "I know there's some nice people up there, I just don't know them.
Authorities have since stated that the case was 'suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation', though no foul play is suspected.
Mendoza added that he was 'pretty confident' of this, but explained: "But of course, we’re not ruling anything out."
The high-profile pair were found by two maintenance workers, who said they had not seen the couple for two weeks prior.
Featured Image Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
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