Updated 09:37 6 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 09:31 6 Mar 2025 GMT
One of the actor's three pets was also found dead at the Santa Fe home
A close pal of the late Gene Hackman has shared heartbreaking details about the dog that was found dead alongside the couple.
The showbiz world has been left reeling by the mysterious death of the Bonnie and Clyde actor, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa.
The couple were found partially ‘mummified' at their Santa Fe mansion on 26 February, while Hackman’s pacemaker indicated that his heart beat for the last time nine days prior.
The actor's daughter Elizabeth Jea initially suggested that the couple - who got married in 1991 - may have passed away as a result of a carbon monoxide leak.
Gene Hackman and wife found dead
However, a local gas company has since said they made ‘no significant findings’ or any evidence to support this theory after inspecting the property, although there was a 'miniscule' leak.
Investigators have been working tirelessly to try and establish what happened to Hackman and Arakawa, but police did admit they made a blunder when assessing the scene.
The actor and the classically trained pianist were found dead at their Santa Fe home (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
The two-time Oscar winner, known for his roles in Superman and Mississippi Burning, was found deceased alongside his classical pianist wife and one of their dogs.
The couple had three pets - a German shepherd named Bear, an Akita-shepherd mix named Nikita and an Australian Kelpie mixed breed called Zinna.
Zinna was sadly found dead inside the New Mexico property, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson, who explained the 12-year-old animal was discovered in a kennel in a bathroom closet.
This is said to have been situated close to where Arakawa's body was.
Joey Padilla owns dog boarding and training facility Santa Fe Tails pet care, where Hackman and Arakawa regularly dropped their animals off.
According to Padilla, the pet which passed away was 'always attached at the hip' to Arakawa and the pair shared a 'beautiful relationship'.
The couple were described as 'true animal lovers' (Facebook)
He told the Associated Press: "Zinna went from being a returned shelter dog to this incredible companion under Betsy’s hand."
The surviving dogs are currently in the care of Padilla, who described them as 'Betsy's babies'.
"I will be holding on to them until I get word on what Betsy's wishes for these dogs are," he told ABC News.
Although Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths are not being treated as suspicious, authorities said the case was 'suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation'.
The couple were described as 'true animal lovers' by their friends, who told the Daily Mail they treated their pets 'as if they were their own children'.
Featured Image Credit: Facebook
Topics: Celebrity, Celebrity News, Gene Hackman, US News, Dogs
Olivia Burke
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."
Morgan Freeman's Gene Hackman Tribute
Credit: ITV
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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
Topics: Gene Hackman, Celebrity, Crime, US News
Joshua Nair
Updated 07:54 5 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 07:48 5 Mar 2025 GMT
Police admit to big crime scene mistake after Gene Hackman died alongside wife at home
Legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa's bodies were discovered on 26 February
Police tasked with investigating the mysterious deaths of legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have admitted a major crime scene mistake was made.
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)
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
Gene Hackman was spotted in public with his wife Betsy Arakawa for the first time in two decades last year before news of their death emerged.
The Superman actor, 95, and Arakawa, 63, were found dead, alongside their dog, at their residence in New Mexico on 26 February.
Gene Hackman and wife found dead
(Sky News)
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"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.
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