Gene Hackman's children share statement on mysterious death as police investigate 'suspicious' scene

Gene Hackman's three children Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie have released a joint statement in the wake of their father's passing.

They said: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy.

'He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa.

We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.'

Hackman had the three with his first wife Faye Maltese, a bank clerk, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.

Hackman is seen here with his children during Presidential Premiere of 'Superman' in Washington, D.C. December 10, 1978 at JFK Center for the Performing Arts

In October 1996, Elizabeth and Leslie were photographed at the premiere of The Chamber in Beverly Hills, California, alongside their stepmother, Betsy and father

Gene Hackman's 'The Royal Tenenbaums' co-star Bill Murray has paid tribute to the actor following his death.

Speaking with the Associated Press Murray said: 'He was a tough nut, Gene Hackman, but he was really good and he was really difficult.

'Like, we can say it now, but he was a tough guy because older great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They're really rough on 'em.'

Murray recounted to the agency how when they worked together on Royal Tenenbaums Hackman would do multiple takes flawlessly.

The 74-year-old added that younger actors would fall behind the aging Hackman, adding: 'He was a great one. He was a great actor.'

Hackman was the titular character in the Wes Anderson flick, with Murray playing Raleigh St. Clair.

Murray, top left, is seen here beside Hackman, center, and Luke Wilson, right. Ben Stiller appears in the row in front of them.

Actor Josh Brolin shared a tribute to Hackman and his wife Betsy on Thursday, saying their deaths had left him 'crushed'.

The 57-year-old wrote in a post to Instagram: 'I am crushed by the sudden deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa (and their dog). Crushed.

'He was always one of my favorites. Not many who beat to their own drums like he did. Rest in Peace.'

Director Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Hackman in the 1974 flick 'The Conversation', paid tribute to the actor on Thursday.

Coppola shared a picture of the two on the set of the movie to his social media, writing: 'The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration.

'Gene Hackmana great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.'

Actor John Cusack, who starred alongside Hackman in 2003's 'Runaway Jury' posted on X writing: 'RIP Gene Hackman -  an all time great.  

'One of the most influential screen actors  ever. There was nothing he couldn’t do.  

'His work was searingly truthful and often brutally honest -  he never let you off the hook. 

'Not afraid of ambiguity - a lost quality these days. Lucky and grateful to share screen with him. RIP Gene.'

Hank Azaria worked alongside Hackman in 'The Birdcage', writing: 'It was an honor and an education working with Gene Hackman.'

Actor Antonia Banderas also posted a tribute, saying: 'A very sad day for the cinema’s family.

'Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have passed away. My deepest condolences to friends, family and cinema lovers. RIP.'

Clint Eastwood, 94, who directed and starred in the 1992 Western 'Unforgiven' alongside Hackman, lauded his 'dear friend' in a heartbreaking statement to Variety.

He said: 'There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.'

Hackman won his second Oscar in the Supporting Actor category for his role as brutal sheriff 'Little' Bill Daggett in Unforgiven.

The star had initially turned down the part as his two daughters had told him they didn't like him making so many violent films.

Disturbing details have emerged after Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's dead bodies were found at their home in New Mexico.

Not only were their remains found, but first responders also stumbled across Gene's beloved German-Shepard dead at the scene.

The canine, which was brown in color, was found dead around 10 feet away from Betsy's lifeless body.

They were both located in the home's bathroom. The dog was inside a closet in the room, whereas Betsy's body was uncovered near the countertop.

But this animal wasn't the only one found on the property.

Officials also found two other pet dogs at the New Mexico home.

One, which was still alive, was spotted inside the same bathroom - where its owner and fellow dog's dead bodies lay.

The second healthy dog was seen outside the residence.

The investigation into the tragedy is still ongoing.

Pictured: Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa with two dogs they previously adopted. It is unclear if these two pets were affected in the tragedy

The EGOT winner wrote on social media: 'Loved you in everything! The Conversation, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven—tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.'

A frantic male caller was heard telling the dispatcher that he has found two bodies which are not moving while pleading for help at the actor's compound in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

TMZ reported that the caller, whose identity was redacted, was emotional and repeatedly exclaimed 'Damn' while sniffing away tears.

A detective noted in the search warrant that 'the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened.'

The note added that 'deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak.'

Hackman's southwestern-style ranch on Old Sunset Trail sits on a hill in a gated community with views of the Rocky Mountains. The 8,700 square-foot, four-bedroom home on six acres was built in 1997 and had an estimated market value of a little over $4 million, according to Santa Fe County property tax records.

Hackman and his wife also owned a more modest 2,000 square-foot home next door that was built in 2000.

Morgan Freeman, who co-starred with Hackman in the 1992 western 'Unforgiven' posted a picture of them to his social media alongside Monica Bellucci.

He said: 'One of the personal highlights of my career was bringing the French Film Gardé a Vue (Under Suspicion) to life with the incredibly gifted Gene Hackman.

'And of course... Unforgiven. Rest in peace, my friend.'

The New Mexico Gas Co. is working with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation, spokesperson Tim Korte told The Associated Press.

The utility tested the gas lines in and around the home after the bodies were discovered, according to the warrant. At the time, it didn’t find any signs of problems. A detective noted that people exposed to gas leaks or carbon monoxide may not show signs of poisoning.

The search warrant for Gene Hackman's home reveals disturbing new details about how police believe he and his wife Betsy died. Among the many bombshells are the facts that;

• Betsy was found in the bathroom surrounded by pills
• Gene was found in the mudroom off the kitchen. He is believed to have fallen
• The dog was found in a bathroom closet
• There were no signs of a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning
• Bodies found by two maintenance workers. They are believed to have been dead for two weeks

Law enforcement officials talk outside the home of actor Gene Hackman on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their wife were found dead in the home a day earlier

Hackman co-wrote three novels, starting with the swashbuckler, Wake of the Perdido Star,' with Daniel Lenihan in 1999, according to publisher Simon & Schuster.

He then penned two by himself, concluding with Pursuit in 2013, about a female police officer on the tail of a predator.

The actor and his wife's bodies were found in separate rooms of their Santa Fe home, The New York Times reported.

One of their three dogs was found dead inside a kennel, according to Sheriff Adan Mendoza.

Police told the outlet that an associate of the couple called emergency services after discovering the bodies.

Sheriff Mendoza added that no suicide note was found and there were no obvious signs of trauma to the bodies.

'At this stage in the process there isn’t anything obvious like that,' the sheriff said. 'The autopsy is going to tell us more.'

The sheriff added: 'We’re not going to guess this was an accident or natural causes... It wasn’t typical.

Gene Hackman's daughter thinks her father and his wife died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Elizabeth Jean Hackman told TMZ that while they are not sure of the couple's cause of death, they think it could be due to inhaling toxic fumes.

Although self-effacing and unfashionable, Hackman held special status within Hollywood — heir to Spencer Tracy as an everyman, actor’s actor, curmudgeon and reluctant celebrity.

He embodied the ethos of doing his job, doing it very well, and letting others worry about his image. Beyond the obligatory appearances at awards ceremonies, he was rarely seen on the social circuit and made no secret of his disdain for the business side of show business.

'Actors tend to be shy people,' he told Film Comment in 1988.

'There is perhaps a component of hostility in that shyness, and to reach a point where you don’t deal with others in a hostile or angry way, you choose this medium for yourself. ... Then you can express yourself and get this wonderful feedback.'

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told TMZ police found two surviving dogs at Hackman's residence on Wednesday.

One dog was found dead alongside the bodies of Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.

The new information deepens the mystery of the causes of death of Hackman and his wife as police have opened a probe into their passings.

While officials had said foul play is not suspected, Mendoza said he's not ruling anything out in the deaths.

Oscar-winning actress Viola David heaped praise on the actor as she shared: 'Loved you in everything! The Conversation, The French Connection, The Poseidon Adventure, Unforgiven—tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.'

Shaun of the Dead star Edgar Wright reposted an announcement about the actor's death and simply remarked: 'The greatest....'

Avengers and Dune: Part 2 star Josh Brolin shared a snap of the couple as he wrote: 'I am crushed by the sudden deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa (and their dog). Crushed. He was always one of my favorites. Not many who beat to their own drums like he did. Rest in Peace.'

Claims by police that there was no foul play involved in the deaths of the actor and his wife have sparked speculation online that carbon monoxide poisoning could have been involved.

However, there is no evidence carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of their deaths, as police are yet to reveal additional details.

Hackman (left) as Sam Clayton and James Coburn as Luke Matthews in the Western 'Bite the Bullet', 1975.

(L-R) Burt Reynolds, Gene Hackman, Liza Minnelli, and Robby Benson perform during production of "Lucky Lady" near San Diego, California, in August 1975.

Color shot of actor Gene Hackman, in a scene from the movie 'The Poseidon Adventure', 1972.

Gene Hackman (L) and Sean Connery await filming during production of "A Bridge Too Far" in the Holland region of the Netherlands on May 8, 1976.

The actor was known to be fond of dogs, and rescued two stray German Shepherds that wandered into a stadium in Baltimore where they were filming scenes for The Replacements in 1999.

Hackman named one of the dogs Gene and the other Keanu, after his co-star Keanu Reeves.

He later visited the animals in a shelter and adopted Gene after flying his own German Shepherds from New Mexico to see if they would get along.

Many have been sharing online not only tributes but also footage of a 2004 interview with Larry King.

Hackman told the then-CNN host how he had previously undergone angioplasty, surgery intended open up narrowed or blocked arteries.

The actor told of suffering 'heart problems', including - 12 years before that conversation - 'severe angina'.

When asked by King whether he worried about his health, Hackman replied: 'I try to take care of myself.  I don't have a lot of fears. I have the normal fear of passing away - you know, I guess we all think about that, especially when you get to be a certain age.

'I want to make sure that my wife and my family are taken care of. Other than that, I don't have a lot of fears.'

Two-time Oscar-winner Hackman, who just turned 95 last month, had spent much of his life overhauling and recreating of portfolio of impressive homes.

And his two latest property projects sat on the compound where the married couple, who wed in 1991, were found alongside their dog on Wednesday.

After renovating a home already on the site, he built a second in 2000. It is still not known which property the pair were found in.

In recent years Hackman retreated to the compound following years of Hollywood success. For the star the remote location of Sante Fe allowed him to stay out of the public eye and 'had a kind of magic in it'.

Hackman’s career spanned more than 40 years and a variety of roles, from tough-guy parts to comedic turns, playing heroes, villains and one iconic sports coach in ways that captivated audiences.

Here’s a list of notable Hackman films:

1961 — Mad Dog Coll (debut)

1967 —Bonnie and Clyde (Academy Award nomination, supporting actor)

1969 — The Gypsy Moths, Downhill Racer, I Never Sang for My Father (Academy nomination, supporting actor)

1971 — The French Connection (as Popeye Doyle, best actor Academy Award win)

1972 — The Poseidon Adventure

1978 — Superman (as Lex Luthor)

1986 — Hoosiers

1988 — Mississippi Burning (best actor Academy Award nomination)

1992 — Unforgiven (Academy Award win for supporting actor)

1993 — The Firm

1995 — Crimson Tide

1996 — The Birdcage

2000 — Under Suspicion, The Replacements

2001 — The Mexican,The Royal Tenenbaums

2003 — Runaway Jury

2004 — Welcome to Mooseport

Hackman met Betsy Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working part-time at a California gym in the mid-1980s, the New York Times reported in 1989.

They soon moved in together, and by the end of the decade had bought their home in Santa Fe.

The large Southwestern-style ranch in a gated community just outside New Mexico’s capital city sits on a hill with views of the Rocky Mountains.

Hackman had three children from a previous marriage, but he and Arakawa had no children together. In 1999 they had adopted three German shepherds, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Hackman told the film magazine Empire in 2020 that he and Arakawa liked to watch DVDs she rented.

Hollywood legend and two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who has died aged 95, spent the last years of his life retired from acting and as a recluse.

The star of 1970s classics The French Connection and The Conversation was seen looking frail in some of the last pictures showing him and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, who has also been found dead at their home along with their pet dog.

Friends occasionally shared glimpses of his post-acting life, including social media shots of fishing and cycling trips.

Hollywood stars like George Takei and Antonio Banderas have been posting tributes to Gene Hackman following news of his death at 95.

It is legal for the terminally ill to die by assisted sucide in New Mexico since July 2021, where Hackman and his wife Betsy were found dead on Wednesday.

The information has emerged as speculation grows over the actor and his wife's cause of deaths.

Hackman, 95, Betsy Arakawa, 63, and their dog were all dead when deputies entered their home to check on their welfare around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday,

The gruff-but-beloved Hackman was among the finest actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.

Santa Fe officials are scheduled to give an update about Gene Hackman and his wife's death on Thursday morning.

The Oscar winner and his wife Betsy were found dead in ther New Mexico home on Wednesday afternoon.

Foul play was not suspected, but authorities did not release circumstances of their deaths and said an investigation was ongoing.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Gene Hackman lied abut his age to enlist in the Marine Corps after leaving home at the age of 16 to join the military.

He served from 1947 to 1952 as a field radio operator and then later as a broadcast journalist.

Hackman was stationed in Qingdao, China, and then Shanghai where part of his duties involved destroying Japanese military equipment so it couldn't be obtained by communists.

He also participated in Operation Beleaguer, a major operation which saw 50,000 US marines deployed to northeastern China, between 1945 and 1949.

Their aim was protect American lives and property in the country and repatriate foreign nationals who were trapped.

Gene Hackman fishing in Santa Fe in 2015

Gene Hackman was born in California and spent many years in Hollywood as one of the world's most successful actors.

But it was Santa Fe, New Mexico, he called home at the end of his life, retiring to live in a gated community on the northern outskirts of the city.

He reportedly moved to Santa Fe in the 1980s and was often seen around the city, serving on the board of The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.

Speaking at the musuem's opening in 1997, he said:

In the 10 years I’ve lived here, I’ve been taken with the excitement and indomitable spirit of this place.

Favourite spots included the Italian restaurant El Nido in the village of Tesuque and he was a regular sight in The New Mexican's celebrity column.

In 2012, Hackman had a physical confrontation with a homeless man who he reportedly slapped when he 'aggressively' approached him and his wife. Police said he acted in self-defence.

Sheriff Adan Mendoza said in a statement: 'All I can say is that we're in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant.'

Mystery surrounds the death of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, who were found dead at their home with their beloved dog.

Officers found Hackman, 95, Arakawa, 64, and the pet dead when they performed a welfare check at their Santa Fe home around 1.45pm.

County Sheriff's deputies said they 'do not believe foul play was a factor in their deaths' but the 'exact cause of death has not been determined'.

Read in full on MailOnline:

Gene Hackman with his best actor Oscar with Jane Fonda and Philip D' Antoni

Gene Hackman received five Academy Award nominations in his distinguished career, winning two statuettes.

He also won acting gongs across five different decades and was presented with the Cecil B. DeMille award, an honorary Golden Globe the year before his final film in 2004.

Here is his full list of major award wins

• Academy Awards

1972 - Best actor for The French Connection

1993 - Best supporting actor for Unforgiven

He also received nominations for best actor in 1989 for Mississippi Burning and for best supporting actor in 1968 for Bonnie & Clyde and in 1971 for I Never Sang for My Father

• BAFTA Awards

1973 - Best actor in a leading role for The French Connection and The Poseidon Adventure

1992 - Best actor in a supporting role for Unforgiven

Hackman also received best actor nominations for The Conversation and French Connection II in 1975 and 1976 and was shortlisted for best supporting actor in 1978 for Superman

• Golden Globes

Hackman won three Golden Globes in his career and was awarded with the Cecil B. DeMille award in 2004

1972 - Best actor - motion picture drama for The French Connection

1993 - Best supporting actor - motion picture for Unforgiven

2002 - Best cctor – motion picture musical or comedy for The Royal Tenenbaums

Speaking to Empire in 2009, Hackman said: 'I try to take care of myself. I don't have a lot of fears.

'I have the normal fear of passing away.

'You know, I guess we all think about that, especially when you get to be a certain age.

'I want to make sure that my wife and my family are taken care of. Other than that, I don’t have a lot of fears.'

The official X account for prestige British film awards BAFTA has posted in tribute to Hackman.

It wrote: 'We are saddened to hear that the much-celebrated actor Gene Hackman has died aged 95.

'Hackman's illustrious career spanned over six decades and earned him BAFTA wins for his work in Unforgiven, The French Connection and The Poseidon Adventure.'

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa pictured at the Golden Globes in 2003

Gene Hackman was found dead alongside Betsy Arakawa, his second wife who shared his secluded lifestyle after he walked away from Hollywood.

According to reports, Ms Arakawa, who was 32 years younger than her husband, was born in Hawaii and is a classically trained pianist.

She is understood to have met Hackman in the 1980s while working part-time at a gym in California as she pursued a career in music.

Hackman later insisted that their relationship began after his divorce from his first wife Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.

He told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love.

The couple moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1990 and were married a year later.

Speaking about their lives, Hackman said he spent time watching 'DVDs that my wife rents; we like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce'.

Hollywood star Gene Hackman - who along with his second wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found dead in their Santa Fe home on Wednesday morning - leaves behind three adult children.

Whilst the two-time Oscar winner mostly tried to keep his family life private throughout his impressive career, he did often confess just how 'tough' his offspring's life was after he missed out on their earlier years due to work.

The Superman star, 95, was married to first wife Faye Maltese, a bank clerk, from 1956 to 1986. They shared three children together - Christopher Allen, now 65, Elizabeth Jean, 62, and Leslie Anne Hackman, 59.

Read more here:

When Gene Hackman retired from acting in the early 2000s, he turned to writing to keep himself busy.

The legendary actor never received a writing credit in his 45-year career on the silver screen but released a series of novels with his neighbour Daniel Lenihan.

Speaking to Empire in 2020, he explained how his son Christopher helped him take up writing before he turned it into a secondary career.

He told the magazine:

My son thought he wanted to be an actor at one time and was in New York and I wrote him a couple of little monologues. I guess that’s where I started. I really enjoyed it. Ideas would just pop into my head and I would write them down.

Speaking about one of his books, Escape From Andersonville: A Novel Of The Civil War, he explained the different kind of stress he felt comparing to starring on screen.

I don’t picture myself as a great writer, but I really enjoy the process, especially on this book. We had to do a great deal of research on it to get some of the facts right, and it is stressful to some degree, but it’s a different kind of stress.

It’s one you can kind of manage, because you’re sitting there by yourself, as opposed to having ninety people sitting around waiting for you to entertain them.

Hollywood legend and two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who has died aged 95, spent the last years of his life retired from acting and as a recluse.

The star of 1970s classics The French Connection and The Conversation was seen looking frail in some of the last pictures showing him and his wife Betsy Arakawa, who has also been found dead.

They were discovered at the property in Santa Fe in the US state of New Mexico to which Hackman retreated in recent decades following years of Hollywood success.

Friends occasionally shared glimpses of his post-acting life, including social media shots of fishing expeditions - while paying tribute to his silver screen triumphs.

Read more on MailOnline:

The shelter which Gene and Betsy adopted their dog from shared a birthday message to the actor last year.

Animal Rescue wrote: 'Happy 94th birthday to our most famous adopter Gene Hackman!! While filming The Replacements in Baltimore in 1999, two stray dogs wandered onto the movie set.

'Both dogs were transported to us via limousine and the Hackmans came up the following week and adopted one of them.#adoptdontshop.'

Gene Hackman's heartbroken fans shared a plethora of emotional tributes to the star on Thursday following the news of his and his wife Betsy Arakawa's deaths.

The couple, who had been married since 1991, were found alongside their dog. Local media has reported that no foul play is suspected.

And amid the shock news, movie fans were quick to share their devastation at the loss of the film icon, taking to X to share their thoughts.

Read on MailOnline below:

Less than a month ago, actor and film director Clint Eastwood wished Hackman a happy birthday in a sweet post on X.

They worked together in Absolute Power, which aired in 1997.

Double Oscar winner Gene Hackman has been found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa at their home in New Mexico.

The 95-year-old enjoyed a glittering career in Hollywood which spanned five decades and included roles in many successful films.

Here's a look at some of his best moments on screen:

Read MailOnline's latest coverage on the actor's death below

• Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home
• How Hollywood ruined Gene Hackman's first marriage to loyal bank clerk
• Last photos of reclusive Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, after couple are found dead at their Santa Fe home
• Gene Hackman's greatest screen moments: From his 1967 breakout as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde to The French Connection's Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle
• Gene Hackman's heartbroken fans share emotional tributes
• Was Gene Hackman tragedy a terrible accident... or something else? Police say his 'exact cause of death is unknown'

Gene Hackman - who along with his wife was found dead in his Santa Fe home - was married twice in his life.

The Hollywood legend, 95, had been with Betsy Arakawa, 64 - more than 30 years his junior - since 1991.

And the late star, perhaps best known for his role as Buck in Bonnie and Clyde, was said to live a 'peaceful life' with the Hawaiian classical pianist he fell in love with.

However, his romance with first partner Faye Maltese, a bank clerk, was understood to be much more tumultuous.

Read in more detail here:

Legendary Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola has paid tribute to Hackman on his Instagram page.

Coppola, perhaps best known for directing the Godfather trilogy, worked with Hackman on the 1974 thriller The Conversation, which was nominated for best film at the Academy Awards.

He wrote:

The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.

Gene Hackman enraptured fans in his iconic roles ever since he stormed to fame as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde, kicking off his four-decade long career.

In the 20 years since his shock 2004 retirement, his classic Hollywood repertoire has continued to leave fans in awe as he left quite an impact on the film industry despite starting a new reclusive life out of the spotlight.

Born on January 30, 1930, Hackman first enlisted in the army after lying about his age at 16, serving for four-and-a-half years before pursuing acting after briefly living in New York.

As Hollywood mourns the loss of the acting great and his beloved wife, let us take a look back at Hackman's greatest moments on screen:

A police statement read: 'On February 26 2025 at approximately 1.45pm, Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased.

'Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time - however, exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.'

George Takei, known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek, posted a touching tribute to the late actor.

We have lost one of the true giants of the screen. Gene Hackman could play anyone, and you could feel a whole life behind it. He could be everyone and no one, a towering presence or an everyday Joe. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever.

Hackman and Arakawa shared their Santa Fe home with their German Shepherds.

While Hackman was filming The Replacements in Baltimore, two stray dogs wandered onto the set.

The actor had them brought to a local shelter, which named the dogs Gene and Keanu - after Hackman and his costar Keanu Reeves.

Gene and his wife went on to adopt the one named after him.

It has not been reported which of their dogs was found alongside them.

Gene Hackman knew he wanted to be an actor from the age of 10 but some people seemed to think he was wasting his time.

His classmates at the Pasadena Playhouse in California, where Hackman studied acting in his mid-20s, cruelly voted him 'Least Likely To Succeed'.

Given that he shared the award that year with his lifelong friend, Dustin Hoffman, the sceptics couldn't have been more wrong.

He won a Best Actor Oscar playing hardboiled detective Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor as brutal sheriff 'Little' Bill Daggett in Unforgiven.

But he could switch off the menace he did so well to play an eccentric family patriarch in 2001 comedy The Royal Tenenbaums (for which he won a Golden Globe) or ham up the villainy as Lex Luthor in the Superman movies.

Read in full on MailOnline:

The couple married in 1991 after moving to their New Mexico home together in 1990.

They reportedly began dating in the mid-80s, reportedly after they met at a gym in California.

Arakawa, who is said to have been born in Hawaii in the early 1960s, was pursuing a career in classical music at the time while working shifts in the gym.

She was a skilled musician who was classically trained as a pianist.

Hackman later insisted that their relationship began after his divorce from his first wife Faye Maltese, who he was married to from 1956 to 1986.

The couple had a love for German Shepherds, at one point owning three after adopting one in 1999.

Tragically, their beloved dog was found dead alongside them.

Read in full on MailOnline:

Hackman divorced his first wife, Faye Maltese, in 1986 after spending 30 years together and raising three children.

Five years later, he walked down the aisle with Arakawa, a retired classical pianist 30 years younger than him.

The pair reportedly met at a fitness center in Los Angeles.

In an interview with Empire in 2020, the retired actor said he enjoyed watching DVDs that Arakawa rented.

'We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce,' he said.

'Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon, with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.'

Hackman and Faye Maltese pictured in the 80s:

Hackman and Arakawa pictured in 1992:

Police arrived at the couple’s home at a gated community on Wednesday afternoon.

Hackman and his wife had lived in Santa Fe since 2004.

Heartbroken film buffs have taken to social media to pay tribute to Hackman.

'RIP Gene Hackman - an unmissable screen presence,' one read.

Another said: 'A colossus, a once-in-a-generation gravitational force of an actor.'

'He was truly one of the finest actors ever to grace the screen and there will never be another like him. RIP and thanks for the amazing performances' a third posted.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico said there is an 'active investigation' into the deaths

The police department said: 'We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail.

'This is an active investigation – however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor.'

The last photos of Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, have been revealed, following the news of their deaths on Thursday.

The couple, who had been married since 1991, were found alongside their dog. Local media has reported that no foul play is suspected.

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Hackman began his acting career nearly 70 years ago, joining the Pasadena Playhouse in 1956, where he befriended fellow aspiring actor Dustin Hoffman.

He eventually moved to New York in 1963 and began performing in several Off-Broadway plays and smaller TV roles.

The thespian truly made his name in the 1970s, when he was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for the 1970 flick, I Never Sang For My Father.

the following year he officially became a leading man, winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as New York City Detective Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in The French Connection.

He went on to have consistent work, including in disaster film The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation (1974) before landing the role of supervillain Lex Luthor in 1978's Superman: The Movie.

In the 1980s he starred in several films including Reds (1981), Under Fire (1983), Hoosiers (1986), No Way Out (1987) and Mississippi Burning (1988).

The 1990s brought him his second Oscar as he earned the Best Supporting Actor gong for his work as sadistic sheriff 'Little' Bill Daggett alongside Clint Eastwood in 1992's Unforgiven.

He rounded out that decade by also starring in Narrow Margin (1990), Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), The Firm (1993), The Chamber (1996), Wyatt Earp (1994), The Quick And The Dead (1995), Crimson Tide (1995), Get Shorty (1995,) Absolute Power (1997), The Birdcage (1996) and Enemy Of The State (1998).

Hackman continued to be active in the early 2000s with roles in Behind Enemy Lines (2001), Heist (2001), Runaway Jury (2003), and even earned the Golden Globe for Best Actor - Musical or Comedy for 2001's The Royal Tenenbaums.

Hackman told Reuters in 2008: 'I haven't held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I'm not going to act any longer.'

'I've been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don't want to do it any longer.'

He also explained his passion for writing novels, saying 'I like the loneliness of it, actually. It's similar in some ways to acting, but it's more private and I feel like I have more control over what I'm trying to say and do.'

'There's always a compromise in acting and in film, you work with so many people and everyone has an opinion. … I don't know that I like it better than acting, it's just different. I find it relaxing and comforting.'

In 2011, he was asked by GQ if he would ever come out of retirement to do one more film, to which Hackman responded: 'If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people.'

He has not stayed completely away from the industry, however, as he has narrated two Marine Corps documentaries: The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima (2016) and We, The Marines (2017).

Last year, he and Betsy, a 64-year-old classical pianist, were seen out and about for the first time in two decades.

Hackman was spotted holding onto his wife's arm for balance as the pair grabbed a bite at Pappadeaux's Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Before the dinner date, Hackman enjoyed a cup of coffee and some apple pie from a local Speedway store.

The couple's outing marked the first time they were seen together in public for 21 years, with the last time being at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards, where he won the Cecil B. deMille award.

Bonnie and Clyde, 1967: The actor was first propelled into the spotlight when he starred in Bonnie and Clyde, where he played Buck Barrow

The Conversation, 1974: Hackman played a surveillance expert who gets into trouble when his recordings reveal a potential murder.

Under Suspicion, 2000: Alongside Monica Bellucci and Morgan Freeman, Hackman played Henry Hearst, a tax attorney who is questioned over the murders of two girls.

The actor starred in a slew of beloved movies and TV shows like Superman, The French Connection and Get Shorty, to name a few.

But in 2004, he announced that he was done being an actor. He packed up his things, left Los Angeles for the quiet of New Mexico - and he never looked back.

Some initially thought that the shocking decision had to do with his marriage.

It turns out, the Oscar-award winning actor actually quit acting because of the severe stress he was under, which became too much to handle after he started to have issues with his heart.

Born in California on January 30 1930, Hackman had just turned 95 in late January.

He was known for being a reclusive person, having not starred in a movie since 2004, when he played Monroe 'Eagle' Cole in the political satire Welcome to Mooseport.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza did not provide a cause of death, nor did he say when the couple might have died, when asked by local media.

The Sheriff confirmed just after midnight that the couple had died, along with their dog.

He said there was 'immediate indication of foul play' in their deaths.

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Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead in their Santa Fe home.

The couple, who had been married since 1991, were found alongside their dog. Local media has reported that no foul play is suspected.

Hackman had just turned 95 in late January. Born in California on January 30 1930, the actor had enlisted in the army after lying about his age at 16, serving for four-and-a-half years.

After moving back to California following his military service, he decided to pursue acting after briefly living in New York.

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