What Happened to Gene Hackman and His Wife? What We Know So Far About Their Deaths

Mar. 15, 2025

Actor Gene Hackman poses for a portrait in 1996 in Los Angeles.Photo:Ron Davis/Getty

Ron Davis/Getty

The legendaryGene Hackmanhasdied at 95 years old— and questions are slowly being answered about his sudden death.

After retiring from acting in 2004, Hackman shifted to a quieter life alongside his wife, Betsy Hackman (née Arakawa), a classical pianist whom he married in 1991. The couple moved to Santa Fe, N.M., where they were tragically found dead alongside their dog on Feb. 26.

Although Hackman was no longer living a life in the spotlight or on the big screen following his retirement, the actor wrote novels and occasionally spoke with the media to look back on his legendary career.

When asked during a 2011 interview withGQabout how he would like to be remembered, Hackman replied, “As a decent actor.”

“As someone who tried to portray what was given to them in an honest fashion,” he said. “I don’t know, beyond that. I don’t think about that often, to be honest.”

Here’s everything we know so far about Gene Hackman’s death.

He was found dead alongside his wife and dog

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa pose for a portrait in Los Angeles in 1986.Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Hackman and his wife, who was 65 years old, were found dead at their home in Santa Fe Summit on Feb. 26 at approximately 1:45 p.m local time, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office confirmed to PEOPLE. Their bodies were discovered alongside their deceased dog.

They were last seen just under a year before their deaths

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa.DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Before they died, the couple had been living a private life for years. They werelast pictured togetherduring a rare outing on March 28, 2024. Hackman was spotted holding onto Betsy’s arm as the pair grabbed lunch together at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Santa Fe.

A neighbor called the police to do a welfare check

Gene Hackman during 65th Annual Academy Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Ron Galella Collection/Getty

The sheriff’s office told local stationKOB 4that they had been dispatched after a neighbor called the police to carry out a welfare check, which is when they discovered Hackman and Betsy’s deceased bodies.

Later, Sheriff Adan Mendoza said thattheir bodies were foundafter a pest control worker had come to the door. When no one answered, he contacted a neighborhood security officer, who saw the bodies through a window and called for emergency services.

Hackman and his wife’s dead bodies were in their home for some time before being found

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa arrive at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2003.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

One day after Hackman and his wife’s bodies were found, Mendoza shared on theTodayshow that it’s “very difficult to put a timeline together,” though they werelikely dead for some timebefore being discovered.

“Just based on their body and other evidence on the body, it looked — it appears [that they were deceased for] several days, possibly even up to a couple of weeks," he said.

Hackman’s pacemaker data would later reveal that he had been dead since Feb. 17, which was nine days before his body was found.

Mendoza further explained that it was “very difficult to determine” if they had died at the same time, though they would continue to investigate.

“There was no indication that anybody was moving about the house or doing anything different, so it’s very hard to determine if they both passed at the same time or how close they passed together,” he said. “We’re trying to put that information together … and I think the autopsy report is going to be key to this investigator.”

The bodies were found in separate rooms, with Hackman near the kitchen and Betsy in a bathroom.

Additionally, Mendoza toldTMZthat two of Hackman and Betsy’s three dogs had survived.

Police reported that Hackman’s wife’s body was partially mummified

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa pose for a portrait in 1986 in Los Angeles.Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Per the affidavit, Hackman appeared to have fallen as his sunglasses were found next to his body as he was “fully clothed.”

However, Betsy appeared to have been dead for some time, as her body “was in a state of decomposition with bloating in her face andmummification in her hands and feet.”

There was no immediate indication of foul play in their deaths, but hours later the case was ruled “suspicious”

Gene Hackman during ‘Runaway Jury’ press conference at the Wyndham Hotel in New Orleans.Vera Anderson/WireImage

Vera Anderson/WireImage

Upon finding Hackman and his wife’s dead bodies, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office confirmed to PEOPLE that foul play was not suspected. TMZ additionally reported that there was no visible trauma discovered on the bodies of the couple according to Mendoza.

Although the cause of death has yet to be determined, there is anactive and ongoing police investigationto look further into it.

Hackman’s daughterElizabeth Jean Hackman, whom he welcomed with ex-wife Faye Maltese, toldTMZthat although the family remains unsure what happened, theysuspect toxic fumes, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, might have been involved.

Mendoza told the outlet that the gas company and fire department were at the scene to ensure that no toxic fumes would harm the deputies as they entered the home.

It added that police found the front door unlocked and opened while a dog was running around the property and another was near Betsy’s dead body. Additionally, a heater was moved, a pill bottle was opened with pills scattered near Betsy and Hackman was found in a separate room, all leading to authorities' ruling to investigate further as there were “no obvious signs of a gas leak.” Police later recovered Tylenol from the home, along with thyroid and blood pressure medications.

During his appearance onToday, Mendoza said that he was “pretty confident” no foul play had been involved, though it hasn’t been ruled out yet.

With no immediate signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, police are calling the prescription bottle found near Betsy “very important evidence”

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Hackman attend Mission Hills Pro-Celebrity Sports Invitational on Nov. 30, 1991.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

But during his appearance on theTodayshow, Mendoza said that it remained unclear whether or not a leak may have contributed to their deaths.

When asked whether there a leak could have dissipated in the time after the pair’s deaths but before their bodies were found, he replied, “it possibly could. That was a home with natural gas in it, so it could have [dissipated]. There’s a lot of unanswered [questions] there.”

Mendoza further said that the prescription pill bottle found near Betsy is “very important evidence” for their investigation.

“That’s obviously very important evidence at the scene,” Mendoza said of the scattered pills. “That information was collected, that information was passed to the office of the medical investigator to help them make a determination.”

He added, “So we’re looking at that specifically and other medications that were possibly in the residence. So that is something of concern.”

Mendoza further shared that a toxicology report “could take up to three months or even possibly longer.”

Betsy was determined to have died several days before Hackman

Jarrell said that it was “reasonable to conclude” that Betsy died first, with Hackman following several days later. The last activity on Hackman’s pacemaker was registered on Feb. 17, making it likely that he died the next day since he was found with no food in his stomach at the time of his death.

Hackman died of a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer’s disease.

source: people.com