Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 63, were found dead in their Santa Fe home on February 26, 2025. Authorities reported that they had been deceased for some time, with Hackman discovered in a mudroom and Arakawa in a bathroom.
An open prescription bottle and scattered pills were found near Arakawa. While foul play is not suspected, the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Hackman, a two-time Oscar winner, retired from acting in 2008 and moved to New Mexico for a quieter life. The couple, married since 1991, were last seen in public a year ago.
They lived privately, with Arakawa being particularly discreet about her life.