Academy Award winner Gene Hackman And his wife Betsy Arakawadied in February 2025, at the age of 95 and 64.
US Weekly It was confirmed on February 27, 2025 that the actor and his spouse were found dead in Santa Fe shared in New Mexico.
“We are very sad to announce the death of our father Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy. His outstanding acting career has been loved by millions of people all over the world, but to us, he has always been just dad and grandpa. “Hackman’s daughter and granddaughter told us In the statement. “We will miss him so much and be frustrated by the loss.”
Hackman and Arakawa have been married since 1991. Their children Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie from his first marriage to their ex-wife. Faye Maltese.
Hackman retired in 2004, but he still wants his prolific film work to be his legacy.
“[I want to be remembered] Being a decent actor. Being someone who tries to portray their stuff in an honest way. Other than that, I don’t know. “Hackman, who was 81 years old at the time, told GQ In a 2011 profile. “I don’t think about it often, to be honest. I’m in an era where I should.”
Keep scrolling to learn what you know so far about Hackman’s death:
When did Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa find out that they died?
us It was confirmed on February 27, 2025 that the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa were found the day before.
“On February 26, 2025, at about 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were sent to an address on the old sunset trail in Hyde Park where 95-year-old Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and a 64-year-old dog were found and died and died.” us.
Why were police dispatched to Gene Hackman’s home?
The sheriff’s department confirmed that a maintenance officer asked neighbors to conduct a welfare check and the couple did not answer the door on February 26. Safety known as 911, law enforcement officers then entered the couple’s house and declared Arakawa dead.
Oscar winner Gene Hackman died at the age of 95. Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found dead at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Wednesday, February 26. You have successfully subscribed. To subscribe to the newsletter, please enter a valid email. By signing up to subscribe, […]
Has the cause of death been determined?
The official cause of death has not been ruled.
“However, fouls are not considered as the factor of those deaths [the] The exact cause of death has not been determined. “The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department pointed out in a statement us. “This is an active investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.”
Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth Died from carbon monoxide poisoning. At a press conference on February 28, authorities revealed that there was no carbon monoxide present.
When did Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa die?
Santa Fe County Sheriff at a February 28 press conference Adan Mendoza Explained that Hackman has a pacemaker, which shows he has been dead for over a week.
“The initial inquiry was conducted on Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker,” Mendoza said. “This suggests that his last event was recorded on February 17, 2025. I was told that a more thorough investigation would be completed.”
Asked if this means Hackman died nine days before he was found, the sheriff said: “According to the pathologist, I think it’s a good assumption that it was the last day of his life.”
What was discovered on the scene?
The Sheriff’s Department confirmed on February 28 that two bottles of drugs were found. Based on the arrest warrant, peopleIn addition to Tylenol, an unnamed thyroid drug and a hypertensive drug called diltiazem were found. There are also two green phones and a 2025 dating book.
Investigate Gene Hackman’s death
Sheriff Mendoza issued his own statement revealing that the department is in a “preliminary” investigation and is “awaiting for approval of the search warrant.”
The search warrant will bring the police department into Hackman and Arakawa’s residences to find out the cause of death.
After the Sheriff’s Department obtained an arrest warrant on February 27, 2025, authorities reportedly called the situation “suspicious.” TMZ.
“The deaths of the two dead are suspicious in nature and require a thorough search and investigation, as the reporting team found the front door of the residence, unsecured and open, and the healthy dog running on the property, another healthy dog among the dead women, one of the dead dogs emitting change in a sporadic female. The male deceased was in a separate room of the residence, with no obvious signs of gas leakage.”
According to the documentation, Arakawa reportedly fell unconscious next to a space heater, reportedly “decomposed, face open, mummy of hands and feet,” Hackman wrote, who was located (at the same time) in a separate room with sunglasses next to him in full bloom. TMZ reported that he had some suspicion that he had fallen.
Despite Hackman’s daughter’s suspicion, the fire department has not found evidence of a carbon monoxide leak: “As of now, there is no sign or evidence to be associated with pipes inside and outside the residence.”
According to the Sheriff’s Department, carbon monoxide and toxicology tests are required because they do not suspect any signs of foul.
dog
According to the affidavit, only one dog was found dead on the property, and two other dogs were found alive and healthy. Two maintenance workers found the puppy’s body and they arrived at home and found the front door. The workers last met Hackman and Arakawa, two weeks ago.
