Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, the esteemed 95-year-old actor, was found deceased alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and one of their dogs at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. The couple’s bodies were discovered by maintenance workers after concerns arose due to a lack of communication over two weeks. Preliminary autopsy results indicate no external trauma, and authorities have found no immediate signs of foul play, carbon monoxide poisoning, or gas leaks. The exact cause of death remains under investigation, with official autopsy and toxicology reports pending, which may take four to six weeks to complete.
Hackman’s distinguished career spanned over four decades, earning him two Academy Awards for his roles in “The French Connection” (1971) and “Unforgiven” (1992).
Tributes have poured in from the film industry, with director Francis Ford Coppola describing Hackman as “a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity.” Actor Viola Davis expressed admiration, stating, “You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.”
