One Thing Gene Hackman Did with His Wife Betsy Arakawa at Their Home Before They Both Were Found Dead There #6

A maintenance worker arrived at Gene Hackman’s Santa Fe home and noticed something unusual. Inside, investigators uncovered details that led to a closer examination of the scene. In their private life, Hackman and his wife had a routine they often enjoyed together at home.

On February 26, 2025, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead inside their Santa Fe home. Their dog was also discovered deceased, adding to the growing questions surrounding the scene. Authorities launched an investigation, but there were no immediate signs of foul play.

The couple had lived in seclusion for years, rarely making public appearances. Hackman, long retired from Hollywood, had settled into a quiet life with Arakawa, following a familiar routine in their home. Just before they were found, they had spent time doing something they had often done together.

Hackman’s Career and Retirement

Hackman’s career spanned nearly six decades, earning him a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and respected actors. He starred in a wide range of films, from gritty dramas to comedies and action-packed blockbusters.

His breakthrough role came in 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde,” which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. He went on to win two Oscars—one for “The French Connection,” where he played the relentless Detective “Popeye” Doyle, and another for “Unforgiven,” portraying the ruthless sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett.

Other major films included “The Conversation,” “Superman,” “Hoosiers,” “The Birdcage,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.” Despite his success, Hackman never viewed himself as a Hollywood insider. He was known for being private and often avoided industry events.

By the early 2000s, he had started to withdraw from acting, taking on fewer roles. His final film appearance was in “Welcome to Mooseport” (2004), after which he quietly stepped away from the spotlight. His decision to retire wasn’t driven by a lack of opportunities but by concerns about his health.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” Hackman explained in an interview with Empire magazine. “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.”

Taking the warning seriously, he made the decision to leave acting for good. Though he acknowledged missing the craft, Hackman admitted that the demands of the industry had become overwhelming.

“I miss the actual acting part of it, as it’s what I did for almost 60 years, and I really loved that,” he revealed in 2008. “But the business for me is very stressful. The compromises that you have to make in films are just part of the beast, and it had gotten to a point where I just didn’t feel like I wanted to do it anymore.”

His retirement marked a complete shift away from the film industry. He no longer gave interviews or attended public events. For Hackman, life after acting was about simplicity and privacy.

Hackman and Arakawa’s Life in Santa Fe

For more than three decades, Hackman and Arakawa lived in seclusion in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The two had met in the early 1980s when Arakawa was working part-time at a California fitness center. At the time, Hackman was still married to his first wife, Faye Maltese, with whom he shared three children.

Their marriage, which had lasted nearly 30 years, ended in divorce in 1986. Although Hackman’s role in “Twice in a Lifetime” around that time seemed to mirror his real-life circumstances — he played a man who left his longtime wife for another woman — he made it clear that wasn’t what happened in his personal life.

“By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart,” he shared. He explained that maintaining a marriage in Hollywood required constant effort, and over time, he and Maltese had simply “lost sight of each other.”

After the divorce, Hackman and Arakawa became inseparable. By 1989, they had moved in together, living in a modest two-bedroom adobe home on the outskirts of Santa Fe. The couple officially married in 1991 and later purchased a larger home on a twelve-acre property.

Arakawa, a classical pianist, largely avoided the public eye, much like Hackman. Despite their significant age difference—Hackman was 32 years older — their relationship remained strong over the decades. They kept a tight circle and were rarely seen in public.

For Hackman, Arakawa was not just his wife but also his closest companion, sharing in the quiet lifestyle he embraced in Santa Fe. By 1990, they had settled into their new home. Hackman took an active role in designing the house, working closely with architects to achieve the rustic, timeworn appearance he envisioned.

He once explained that he wanted the walls to show water stains and smoke marks, creating the illusion of a house that had stood for more than a century. Santa Fe provided Hackman with the peace and privacy he desired.

While he was one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, he avoided public appearances and rarely spoke about his career. Even when “The French Connection” marked its 50th anniversary in 2021, Hackman showed little interest in revisiting the film.

“I haven’t seen the film since the first screening in a dark, tiny viewing room in a post-production company’s facility 50 years ago,” he stated. “If the film has a legacy, I am not sure what that would be.” Though he acknowledged the film’s impact on his career, he preferred to leave it in the past.

Instead of looking back at his time in Hollywood, Hackman focused on personal interests. He spent much of his time driving through the open landscapes surrounding his home, painting, a longtime passion, and enjoyed fishing in nearby rivers.

He also turned to writing, publishing several novels in the years following his retirement. While his name remained legendary in the film industry, Hackman’s life revolved around quiet, personal pursuits, shared only with Arakawa.

The Routine Hackman and Arakawa Shared at Home

Away from the public eye, Hackman and Arakawa settled into a simple and structured life. One of their longest-running traditions was watching movies together at home.

Hackman once shared that Arakawa often rented DVDs for them to watch, preferring small-budget films with strong storytelling. He appreciated these kinds of films over big Hollywood productions, which he had long distanced himself from.

Comedy was another part of their routine. Every Friday night, the couple set aside time to watch marathons on the Comedy Channel, with Hackman particularly enjoying stand-up performances by Eddie Izzard.

“The speed of thought is amazing,” he once said about Izzard’s comedic style. For over three decades, the couple lived undisturbed in their peaceful retreat.

The Discovery of Their Bodies

On February 26, 2025, a maintenance worker arrived at Hackman and Arakawa’s Santa Fe home for routine work. When he got there, he noticed that the front door was open, which immediately struck him as unusual. Looking through a window, he saw Arakawa lying motionless on the floor. Concerned, he contacted emergency services.

When authorities arrived, they entered the home and found Hackman near the entryway. Arakawa was in the bathroom, lying on her right side with a space heater beside her, as if it had been knocked over when she fell. A deputy also discovered their German shepherd dead inside a kennel in a bathroom closet.

However, two other dogs were found alive — one inside the house and another outside on the property. Investigators saw no immediate signs of foul play, forced entry, or a struggle.

Nothing appeared to be missing, and there were no visible injuries on Hackman or Arakawa. While the cause of death was unclear, authorities determined that the circumstances warranted a full investigation. One of the first concerns was the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning or a gas leak.

Fire department personnel and the New Mexico Gas Co. tested the home’s gas lines and air quality. However, initial results found no signs of carbon monoxide exposure or any hazardous leaks. A detective noted that while no gas-related issues were immediately detected, exposure to such toxins does not always leave visible traces.

Authorities also considered the timeline of events leading up to the discovery. The maintenance worker who found the bodies reported that he had not seen the couple for about two weeks before the incident. Another worker from the residential community said that their last contact with Hackman and Arakawa had been around the same time.

This suggested that the couple may have been deceased for some time before they were found. Despite a thorough search, investigators did not immediately determine what led to the deaths of Hackman, Arakawa, and their dog.

Family Reactions to Hackman’s Passing

Following the news of Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths, their family released a statement mourning their loss. Hackman’s children from his marriage to Maltese expressed their devastation.

“He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa,” they stated. “We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

The circumstances surrounding Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths remain unclear, with investigations still ongoing. What is certain, however, is the lasting impact Hackman left behind. His legacy in film continues to endure.