Gene Hackman's death, alongside wife Betsy Arakawa and pet dog sparks police investigation
Gene Hackman, 95, and wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, have been found dead in their New Mexico, Santa Fe home.
The Oscar-winning actor had a legendary career lasting more than six decades in which he became a household name for his roles in The French Connection, Superman, Unforgiven and countless more films.
The couple had been married since 1991, with local media reporting that the pair were found dead alongside their pet dog, but that no foul play is suspected.
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A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico 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.”
Santa Fe County Sheriff, Adan Mendoza did not provide a cause of death, or provide an indication on when the couple may have died.
Gene and Betsy started dating in the mid-80s, after a chance encounter at the gym.
Betsy, who was 32 years the actor's junior, is said to have been born in Hawaii in the early 1960s, and was pursuing a career in classical music at the time while working shifts in the gym.
Gene Hackman's last big screen appearance came in 2004's Welcome to Mooseport, but he is better known for his tenure as Lex Luthor in the Superman films.
He also worked with Francis Ford Coppola in The Conversation, alone with Wes Anderson in The Royal Tenenbaums.
In 2008, the star told Reuters he planned on stepping away from the camera, explaining: “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.”
Later in 2011, GQ asked him if he ever considered coming out of retirement, to which he responded: “If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people.”
