Gene Hackman, the iconic actor celebrated for his commanding performances in films like The French Connection and Unforgiven, has passed away.
The widely celebrated actor died at the age of 95, alongside his wife of 3 decades, Betsy Arakawa.
Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found deceased in their New Mexico home, alongside their beloved dog, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Following the tragic discovery, authorities ruled out foul play, but the official cause of death remains under investigation.
Gene Hackman And His Wife Were Found Dead During A Welfare Check
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa were found deceased right inside their home. They were found dead when deputies conducted a welfare check at the couple’s residence around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26.
According to a spokesperson, Denise Womack-Avila, deputies showed up at the actor’s home following a concerned neighbor’s call. The neighbor had called authorities because they were concerned about the couple’s well-being.
When the deputies arrived for the welfare check, the legendary actor was found dead. His wife, Betsy was also seen deceased, alongside their dog.
A search warrant revealed that the actor and his wife, alongside their dog had been dead for a while by the time they were found. Also, the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa were found in different rooms in the house they lived in.
Hackman was discovered dead in a mudroom, while Arakawa was found in a bathroom next to a space heater. According to the AP, an open prescription bottle and scattered pills were found on the countertop near Arakawa.
The New Mexico medical examiner’s office stated that determining the exact cause of death could take up to six weeks. Apparently, more revelations will be made in the coming days concerning the death of the couple.
Hackman’s passing comes just days before the Academy Awards — a ceremony that once honored him with two Oscars for his unforgettable performances.
Gene Hackman’s Rise to Stardom and Cinematic Legacy
There is no doubt that Gene Hackman was a powerhouse of talent. He was a man who redefined what it meant to be a leading man. Known for bringing complex, flawed characters to life, he thrived in roles that blended authority with a simmering edge of danger.
His breakout role came in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, where he played Buck Barrow, earning his first Oscar nomination. Four years later, he won his first Academy Award for Best Actor as the relentless detective Popeye Doyle in The French Connection (1971).
Hackman was a very versatile actor. His versatility was evident in different films including The Conversation (1974), where he played a surveillance expert consumed by paranoia, and as the ruthless Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and its sequels. His second Oscar came in 1992 for his chilling portrayal of Sheriff Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.
By the time he retired in 2004, Gene Hackman had built a filmography that spanned decades and genres, influencing generations of actors and filmmakers.
Hackman Led A Quiet Life After Hollywood
Despite the towering legacy that he had built, Gene Hackman stepped away from the spotlight in his mid-70s. In a candid interview with Larry King, he reflected on his decision to retire, saying, “It’s probably all over.”
He never returned to acting but remained creatively active, co-authoring several historical novels.
The actor spent his later years in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, a former classical pianist. The couple enjoyed a peaceful life, away from the public eye, though Hackman’s influence never faded.
Tributes Have Poured In for Gene Hackman
Following news of his passing, tributes from Hollywood and beyond flooded social media. Many fans and fellow superstars found the news very shocking and expressed their shock online.
Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Hackman in The Conversation, wrote:
“The loss of a great artist is cause for both mourning and celebration. Gene Hackman was magnificent in his complexity — a true master of his craft.”
George Takei praised Hackman’s range, saying:
“Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you felt a whole life behind every character. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.”
Fans, actors, and directors alike have continued to honor his memory, reflecting on the impact he made not only in cinema but in storytelling as a whole.
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Gene Hackman Didn’t Land A Major Role Till Age 36
Gene Hackman’s career has inspired many people over the years. He didn’t have an easy start but kept going until he hit it big. As a matter of fact, he didn’t land a major film role until he was 36, after years of struggling as a Marine, truck driver, and doorman.
Yet once he found his place in Hollywood, he became a force of nature , becoming a performer who could command the screen with a glance or a quiet word.
The actor now leaves behind three children from his previous marriage to Faye Maltese, who passed away in 2017, and an enduring body of work that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Gene Hackman may have passed on, but his legacy as one of the most transformative actors of his generation remains immortal and countless generations will watch him in action and be inspired.
