Gene Hackman, the two-time Oscar-winning actor acclaimed for roles in films such as The French Connection and Unforgiven, was discovered dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on Wednesday, February 26. Police say the circumstances are suspicious, yet Sheriff Adan Mendoza told NBC's Today show he is "pretty confident" no foul play occurred, though he has not ruled it out. Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found in separate rooms with one of their three dogs lying dead nearby, while two other dogs survived. "One of the things is in an investigation, we try to piece a timeline together," Sheriff Mendoza told the Today show, explaining that Hackman's pacemaker had last recorded activity on February 17-nine days before the bodies were discovered.
In an affidavit supporting a search warrant, Detective Roy Arndt of the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office stated that there was "no indication that either had suffered blunt-instrument trauma, or that anything had been removed from the house or disturbed." A deputy reported that Arakawa's corpse showed signs of bloating and mummification in her hands and feet, while Hackman's body was in a "similar" condition. Responding to questions about potential causes of death, Sheriff Mendoza said in a press conference, "I hope [for] a little bit of patience on the family's part, on everybody's part, so we can have some answers." He emphasized that toxicology results could take weeks or even longer.
Although authorities ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, the unusual nature of the scene-including an unlocked front door, a back door left ajar, and scattered prescription pills-has led investigators to piece together every possible clue. The Santa Fe Sheriff's Office collected blood-pressure and thyroid medications, as well as Tylenol, from the residence. A German shepherd was discovered dead in a kennel crate approximately 10 to 15 feet from Arakawa, while one healthy dog was found beside her, and another was roaming outside.
News of Hackman's death rocked Hollywood, prompting tributes at the Academy Awards and across social media. He “was a generous performer," said Morgan Freeman, who appeared with Hackman in Unforgiven and Under Suspicion. Bill Murray, Hackman's The Royal Tenenbaums co-star, told the Associated Press, "He was a tough nut." Viola Davis wrote, "Loved you in everything!" while Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Hackman in The Conversation, praised him as "magnificent in his work and complexity."
Hackman was revered not only as a versatile actor but also as a sort of no-nonsense everyman. Born in Danville, Illinois, he endured a difficult childhood that left him introspective. During his five-year stint in the Marines, he left high school behind and later pursued acting, eventually landing his breakout role in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde. A few years later, he cemented his star status with an Oscar-winning turn as Popeye Doyle in The French Connection. Across a career spanning more than 70 movies, he played villains, heroes, and conflicted characters, including Lex Luthor in three Superman films, before retiring in 2004.
Hackman settled in Santa Fe with Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who had become his second wife in 1991. The pair lived on a sprawling 12-acre property where Hackman devoted time to painting, and she continued her music pursuits. They were known to keep a low profile, though they occasionally dined out in local restaurants or visited Whole Foods. "He's a global superstar and a part of Santa Fe's local community. He's a horrible villain and a really decent human being," Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber told USA TODAY. "I think that's why ... the response to his death is so strong, because he connects across these different boundaries, and not everybody can do that."
Friends and neighbors say the couple was private, yet warm and welcoming. Hackman's daughter Leslie, speaking to PEOPLE, said she hadn't seen her father and stepmother in several months but that she "hadn't talked to them for a couple months," adding that everything seemed normal. Now, with both Hackman and Arakawa gone, authorities remain committed to uncovering precisely how the couple's final days unfolded.
