Gene Hackman, the esteemed 95-year-old actor, and his 65-year-old wife, Betsy Arakawa, were discovered deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on February 26, 2025. Their bodies, along with one of their dogs, showed signs of having been deceased for several days. While the exact cause of death remains undetermined, authorities have found no evidence of foul play.
Prior to this tragic event, the couple led a private life, seldom appearing in public together. Their most recent public outing was in 2003 at the Golden Globe Awards.
The last known photographs of them together were taken on March 28, 2024, during a lunch outing at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe, where Hackman appeared with a walking stick, and Arakawa was seen supporting him.
Investigations into their deaths have revealed a few concerning details. An unsecured front door and scattered prescription pills near Arakawa’s body were found, suggesting possible unusual circumstances. However, autopsies indicated no external trauma, and carbon monoxide poisoning was ruled out. Data from Hackman’s pacemaker indicated activity until February 17, leading authorities to estimate their time of death around that date.
As of now, the authorities are awaiting toxicology results to gain further insights into the cause of their deaths.
