Acclaimed American actor Gene Hackman (95), his wife Betsy Arakawa (63), and their dog were discovered dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico residence on February 26, 2025. Authorities responded to their home on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park around 1:45 pm, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office. While an investigation is ongoing, officials have stated they do not suspect foul play was involved.
Hackman’s career spanned more than six decades, during which he collected numerous prestigious awards, including two Academy Awards. His first Oscar came in 1971 for his portrayal of detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection,” and his second was awarded for his supporting role as Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 Western “Unforgiven.”
His talent earned him additional Oscar nominations for his work in “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967), “I Never Sang for My Father” (1970), and “Mississippi Burning” (1988). Beyond these accolades, Hackman’s trophy case included two BAFTA awards, four Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Versatile Performer with Over 100 Roles
Throughout his illustrious career, Hackman demonstrated remarkable versatility across more than 100 roles. Many remember him as the iconic villain Lex Luthor in the Christopher Reeve “Superman” films of the 1970s and 1980s. His filmography features collaborations with Hollywood legends including Al Pacino in “Scarecrow” (1973), Gene Wilder in “Young Frankenstein” (1974), and Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton in “Reds” (1981).
Other notable performances include roles in “Runaway Jury,” Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums,” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation.” He showcased his comedic abilities as a conservative senator in the 1996 film “The Birdcage” alongside Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.
Hackman’s final on-screen appearance came in 2004’s “Welcome to Mooseport,” after which he retired from acting to enjoy a quieter life in New Mexico.
From Military Service to Hollywood Stardom
Born in California in 1930, Hackman had a mobile childhood before joining the U.S. Marine Corps at age 16 (having lied about his age). He served for four and a half years with postings in China, Hawaii, and Japan before his discharge in 1951.
Post-military, Hackman studied journalism and television production at the University of Illinois while working various jobs in New York. He eventually pursued his childhood dream of acting by joining the Pasadena Playhouse in California, where he met fellow aspiring actor Dustin Hoffman.
Hackman once reflected on his path to acting: “I think I wanted to be an actor from around age 10. Seeing early films with actors I admired like James Cagney and Errol Flynn—those romantic action figures—made me feel I could do that too. But I struggled in New York for about eight years before finding work, selling women’s shoes, polishing furniture, driving trucks. If it’s truly in you and you want it badly enough, you can make it happen.”
He added that while he aspired to act, he had “always believed actors needed to be handsome,” noting this belief stemmed from idolizing Errol Flynn. “I’d leave theaters surprised when I saw myself in mirrors because I didn’t resemble Flynn, though I felt like him inside.”
Broadway and Film Career
Returning to New York in 1963, Hackman performed in Off-Broadway productions and minor television roles before his breakthrough in the 1970s as detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in “The French Connection.” His theatrical work included performances in “Children From Their Games,” “Poor Richard,” “The Natural Look,” and later “Death And The Maiden” in 1992.
Hackman’s personal life included a 30-year marriage to Faye Maltese, with whom he had three children before their 1986 divorce. He later married Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist. The couple largely avoided public attention in their later years, making a rare appearance together at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards where Hackman received the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
Quiet Retirement and Literary Pursuits
In 2008, Hackman confirmed to Reuters that he had retired from acting: “I’m not going to perform anymore. I’ve been advised against announcing this over recent years in case an exceptional role came along, but I genuinely don’t wish to continue acting.”
During retirement, Hackman focused on writing novels. He once explained his perspective on fame: “I was trained as an actor, not a celebrity. I was prepared to play characters, not to manage fame, agents, lawyers, and media. Watching myself on screen is emotionally taxing. I think of myself as quite young, then see this elderly man with sagging skin, weary eyes, and thinning hair.”
The entertainment community mourns the loss of Hackman, with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola describing him as “a great artist” who was “inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity.” Former co-star Valerie Perrine called him “a genius” and one of the “greatest to grace the silver screen,” while actor George Takei noted Hackman’s remarkable ability to “play anyone” with “a whole life behind it.”
