Oscar-Winning Actor Gene Hackman Found Dead in Santa Fe Home

SANTA FE, N.M. — Legendary actor Gene Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead Wednesday afternoon in their home in the Santa Fe Summit community.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed early Thursday that Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 63, died alongside their dog. Authorities reported that there was no immediate indication of foul play.

The sheriff’s deputies arrived at their residence on Old Sunset Trail around Wednesday afternoon. “We are in the middle of a preliminary death investigation,” Mendoza said. “I want to assure the community and neighborhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone,” he added, without disclosing a cause of death.

Gene Hackman had lived in Santa Fe since the 1980s, having married Arakawa in 1991. Hackman is best known for iconic roles such as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in 1971’s The French Connection, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, and Sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award in 1993.

Born on Jan. 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, Hackman built a celebrated career with multiple accolades, including two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. He is also renowned for his roles in films such as Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Mississippi Burning (1988), and several Superman films as Lex Luthor.

Hackman had three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese, which lasted from 1956 to 1986. After settling in Santa Fe, he became actively involved in the community, serving on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

In his later years, Hackman turned to authoring books. He collaborated with fellow Santa Fean Daniel Lenihan on multiple projects and published his own novels, including Payback at Morning Peak and Pursuit.

Despite his fame, Hackman was known for leading a relatively quiet life in Santa Fe. Recent reports noted his infrequent public appearances, though he did capture media attention during a 2012 incident involving a homeless man and made headlines in 2023 for everyday activities such as yard work and dining out locally.

Details regarding the circumstances of his and Arakawa’s deaths are still unfolding. Local authorities are awaiting the results of a preliminary investigation and an autopsy.