Hollywood legend and two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, who has died aged 95, spent the last years of his life retired from acting and as a recluse.
The famous actor who starred in hit movies like The French Connection and The Conversation was recently seen appearing weak in some of the last photos taken with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Tragically, both were discovered deceased at their residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico, along with their pet dog.
Hackman had chosen to live in Santa Fe in his later years after enjoying a successful career in Hollywood during the 1970s.
Friends have given occasional glimpses into his life after acting, sharing images on social media of his fishing trips, all the while honoring his achievements on the big screen.
The married couple, who wed in 1991, were found alongside their dog on Wednesday morning – with local media reporting that no foul play was suspected.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza did not provide a cause of death, nor did he say when they might have died, when asked by reporters.
Two-time Oscar-winner Hackman, who just turned 95 last month and whose fortune was estimated at $3.8million (£3million), became noted for being reclusive.
He had not starred in a movie since 2004, when he played Monroe ‘Eagle’ Cole in the political satire Welcome to Mooseport.
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Awakawa are pictured here in Santa Fe, in the US state of New Mexico, in March 2024
Hollywood legend Hackman won two Oscars – he is pictured here celebrating his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1993, following his performance in Unforgiven
Hackman announced his retirement from acting in 21 years ago – he was pictured here looking frail while out and about in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in March 2024
Hackman is seen here in the 1992 western directed by Clint Eastwood, Unforgiven
He announced his retirement from acting that year, leaving Los Angeles for a quieter life in New Mexico – and resisting any overtures to return in front of the camera.
Hackman told of how his decision was influenced by the strain he suffered when acting, as well as health issues concerning his heart.
He told of receiving a health warning from a doctor, while saying in a statement at the time: ‘The business for me is very stressful.’Â
He had previously undergone surgery after facing problems with his heart – having been rushed to the hospital with chest pain and needing to have a balloon catheter inserted to help open an artery that had dangerously narrowed.
In 2009 he opened up more, telling an interviewer: ‘The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York. The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.’
He told movie magazine Empire: ‘When I’m actually on the set or on a stage, actually doing the work, I loved that process and I loved the creative process of trying to bring a character to life.
‘And then, when you’re actually shooting or performing, there is a kind of a feeling that comes over you, a confidence and kind of a wonderful, washed-over feeling of wellbeing, if you will, when it’s going well.Â
‘Whereas, the business part of show business is kinda wicked. You jump from trying to be a sponge, if you will – in terms of input from other actors and the director and everything that’s surrounding you.
Locals in Santa Fe have shared photos of Gene Hackman who moved there in the 1980s
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, pictured here together at the the Mission Hills Celebrity Sports Invitational in California in November 1991, have both been found dead
This picture of Hackman (centre) was shared from when he attended a show in 2022
‘You jump from that to a luncheon meeting with an agent and a producer on another film.
‘It’s kind of a frying pan. It was jarring and at my age and with my health, I decided I didn’t want to do that any longer.’
Hackman moved in the 1980s to the area of Santa Fe, where he was often seen around town and served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s, according to the local paper The New Mexican.Â
Rare recent pictures of Hackman showed him holding on to his wife’s arm for balance as the pair grabbed a bite at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe in March last year.
The couple’s outing marked the first time they were seen together in public for 21 years, with the previous time being at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards where he won the Cecil B. deMille award.
That same year Hackman gave a rare interview to Larry King in which he announced that he had no new film projects lined up and believed his acting career was over.
And he confirmed his Hollywood departure when promoting his third novel Escape From Andersonville in 2008, telling Reuters: ‘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.’
Rare recent pictures of Hackman showed him alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa as the pair grabbed a bite at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe in March last year
The acting legend was seen holding his wife’s arm in Santa Fe in March last year
He also explained his passion for writing novels, saying ‘I like the loneliness of it, actually. It’s similar in some ways to acting, but it’s more private and I feel like I have more control over what I’m trying to say and do.’
‘There’s always a compromise in acting and in film, you work with so many people and everyone has an opinion. I don’t know that I like it better than acting, it’s just different. I find it relaxing and comforting.’
After leaving the spotlight, Gene settled in Santa Fe where he took up fishing, painting, and writing – and penned three historical fiction novels with undersea archaeologist Daniel Lenihan, as well as two books on his own.Â
In 2011, he was asked by GQ whether he would ever come out of retirement to do one more film – to which Hackman responded: ‘If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people.’
He did not stay entirely away from the industry, however, as he narrated two Marine Corps documentaries – The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima (2016) and We, The Marines (2017).
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has today confirmed Hackman and his wife were found dead along with their dog on Wednesday afternoon in their Santa Fe home – saying they did not believe that foul play was a factor at this time.
A police statement shared with the PA news agency said: ‘On February 26 2025 at approximately 1.45pm, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased.
‘Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time – however, exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.’
Hackman’s roles included arch villain Lex Luthor in Superman movies
His first Academy Award came for playing Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection
Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa are pictured here at the ‘AATLE’ Actors as Artists the Limited Edition Party in Los Angeles in 1992
As well as his two Oscars, Hackman also clinched two Baftas, four Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild Award in an acting career which spanned six decades.Â
He secured the Oscar for Best Actor in 1972 for his role as Detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection, before taking the Best Supporting Actor prize for his part in 1992 western Unforgiven.Â
Hackman, born in California in 1930, left home at age 16 to enlist in the marine corps and served from 1947 to 1952 as a field radio operator and then as a broadcast journalist.
He went on to study journalism and television production at the University of Illinois, but later pivoted to pursue an acting career.
Hackman had a few TV and theatre roles before breaking through with his performance in 1967’s Bonnie And Clyde, which starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway in the title roles.
That display as Clyde Barrow’s brother Buck landed him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
He also achieved Oscar nods for his role in 1970’s I Never Sang For My Father and 1988’s thriller Mississippi Burning.
Hackman also portrayed supervillain Lex Luthor in the 1978 Superman film starring Christopher Reeve in the eponymous role and Marlon Brando as Jor-El, Superman’s biological father.
Gene Hackman (left) played Buck Barrow, the brother of Clyde Barrow portrayed by Warren Beatty (right), in 1967 classic movie Bonnie And Clyde
One of Gene Hackman’s final films was The Royal Tenenbaums, released in 2001
His last on-screen movie role was in 2004’s Welcome To Mooseport – he is seen here performing in the film alongside co-star Christine Baranski
He reprised the role for its subsequent sequels, 1980’s Superman II and 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest For Peace.
Hackman acted opposite many Hollywood heavyweights including Al Pacino in 1973’s Scarecrow.
He also appeared alongside Gene Wilder in 1974’s Young Frankenstein – the pair also having performed together in Bonnie And Clyde – as well as Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton in 1981’s Reds.
His other notable roles included the hit movies The Poseidon Adventure from 1972, 1974’s The Conversation and Runaway Jury in 2003.
Hackman also featured in the star-studded cast of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums in 2001, three years before his final film role.
