Hollywood legend Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, 64-year-old former classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead Wednesday afternoon at home in New Mexico, along with their dog, authorities said.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office provided no cause of death but said there was no indication of foul play. “This is an active and ongoing investigation,” a spokesperson said in an email to Newsweek.
Gene Hackman: A Legendary Life And Acting Career
Born on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, Hackman left an indelible mark on cinema with a career spanning over four decades.
Hackman’s journey to stardom was unconventional. At 16, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a radio operator. Post-service, he pursued journalism before turning to acting, studying at the Pasadena Playhouse. Despite early setbacks, including being voted “least likely to succeed,” Hackman’s perseverance led him to Broadway and eventually to Hollywood.
His breakout role came as Buck Barrow in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde, earning him an Academy Award nomination. He won his first Oscar for Best Actor as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in 1971’s The French Connection and a second for Best Supporting Actor in Unforgiven (1992). Hackman’s versatility shone in films like The Conversation (1974), where he played an introverted surveillance expert, Superman (1978) as the iconic Lex Luthor, and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).
In 2004, Hackman retired from acting, dedicating his time to writing and painting, and leaving behind a legacy of critically acclaimed performances.
Hackman is survived by his three children from his first marriage to the late Fay Maltese.
Tributes Shared Online
Tributes from fans and figures in the entertainment industry began to pour in on social media after the news broke.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, actor George Takei said, “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.”
Comedian and TV presenter Dara Ó Briain called Hackman “the finest screen actor ever.”
“Not a single duff performance, in a long, long career,” he added.
“What an incredibly sad end to a remarkable life,” said broadcaster Piers Morgan.
