Legendary actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, 64, were found dead alongside their dog in their Santa Fe home on Thursday.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office (SCS) said foul play is not suspected, but the cause of death remains under investigation.
Deputies responded to the couple’s residence on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park shortly after 1:45 pm MST on February 26 following a report of the deaths.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” said Denise Womack-Avila, Public Information Officer for SCS .
“Exact cause of death has not been determined.”
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, and Arakawa had lived in Santa Fe for decades.
The actor retired from Hollywood in 2004 to focus on painting, sculpting, and writing historical fiction.
The couple married in 1991 after Hackman’s divorce from his first wife, Filipa “Faye” Maltese, with whom he had three children.
Known for his intense, layered performances, Hackman earned five Oscar nominations over a career spanning six decades.
He won Best Actor for his role as a gritty detective in The French Connection (1971) and Best Supporting Actor as a ruthless gunslinger in Unforgiven (1992).
He also became famous for playing villains, including Lex Luthor in the Superman films and a scheming lawyer in The Firm (1993).
Tributes poured in from fans and colleagues, honouring Hackman’s legacy as one of Hollywood’s most versatile stars.
