Gene Hackman’s ‘Mysterious’ Death: New Details from the Investigation & What a Close Friend Revealed About His Final Months #2

Two-time Academy Award winner Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, spent more than 30 years together, living a quiet life away from Hollywood’s spotlight. Their sudden deaths have raised questions that remain unanswered.

The legendary actor and his wife were found deceased inside their Santa Fe home on February 26, 2025. After years spent valuing privacy and simplicity, the circumstances surrounding their deaths have now become the center of a growing investigation.

Gene Hackman, born Eugene Allen Hackman on January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, became one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.

After serving in the US Marines, he pursued acting, eventually gaining recognition for his role as Buck Barrow in “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967).

His performance in “The French Connection” (1971) earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, cementing his place in film history.

Gene’s most notable works include “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972), “Young Frankenstein” (1974), “Superman” (1978), “Unforgiven” (1992), and “Crimson Tide” (1995).

His versatility allowed him to move seamlessly between drama, comedy, and action, making him a household name for decades.

Alongside his successful career, Gene shared his life with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. Betsy, born on December 15, 1959, in Honolulu, Hawaii, was known for her appearances on “Card Sharks” and at prestigious award shows, including the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards.

The couple lived privately in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they both recently passed away.

Initial findings from preliminary autopsies showed that there was “no external trauma to either individual,” according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

Gene and Betsy were discovered in their New Mexico home, alongside their deceased dog. Authorities have not yet determined the manner or cause of their deaths.

Official autopsy and toxicology reports are still pending, and carbon monoxide and toxicology tests were requested for both.

While foul play is not currently suspected, investigators have not ruled it out entirely. According to the affidavit for a search warrant, the circumstances were considered suspicious enough to warrant a thorough search and investigation.

Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed that no signs of forced entry, struggle, or theft were found at the scene. The couple appeared to have been deceased for several days before they were found.

Betsy’s body was discovered in a bathroom, lying on the ground near an open bottle of prescription pills. A space heater was found nearby, and the couple’s dog was found dead inside the bathroom closet.

Gene’s body was located in another room near the kitchen, where investigators believed he may have suddenly collapsed.

The bodies were first discovered by a caretaker, who placed a 911 call shortly before 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday, February 26.

Emotional and distressed, the caller told dispatchers they could see two unresponsive people through the window but could not enter the house.

Investigators reported that the home’s front door was found open and unsecured, with no immediate evidence of carbon monoxide or natural gas leaks.

The search warrant also permitted law enforcement to look for combustible materials, controlled substances, weapons, and other potential evidence.

The final medical examiner’s reports are expected to take four to six weeks to complete, according to the New Mexico medical investigator’s office.

Authorities emphasized that they are handling the case with caution to ensure all facts are properly documented before any conclusions are made.

While foul play is not officially suspected, the circumstances surrounding their deaths are being called “mysterious.”

Investigators noted visible signs of decomposition, including facial bloating and mummification of both Gene’s and Betsy’s hands and feet.

Santa Fe Fire Chief Brian Moya explained that mummification typically begins more than two weeks after death, raising further questions about how long the couple may have been deceased before they were found.

Forensic pathologist Judy Melinek said the visible mummification strongly indicated that both individuals had been dead for several days at the minimum.

She also emphasized that investigators would need to examine key timelines — such as the last time mail was collected or when the couple last communicated with friends or family — to build a clearer picture of their final days.

Melinek added that the autopsy results could be crucial in answering these questions.

Further complicating the timeline, data retrieved from Gene’s pacemaker provided critical insight. According to Sheriff Adan, the pacemaker recorded Gene’s “last event” on February 17, suggesting he likely died nine days before his body was discovered.

As part of their investigation, authorities removed several items from the couple’s home.

The inventory list included two green cell phones, a monthly planner for 2025, and three medications: a thyroid medication, Diltiazem — typically used to treat high blood pressure — and Tylenol.

Investigators also collected records from MyQuest, a medical diagnostics service.

After a remarkable career spanning over four decades, Gene officially stepped away from acting, confirming his retirement in a 2008 interview with Reuters. He stated, “I’m not going to act any longer.”

While he admitted missing the craft itself, he explained that the stress of the business had become too much.

“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,” he said.

Following his retirement, Gene reinvented himself as an author. Partnering with his friend and neighbor Daniel Lenihan, the “Split Decisions” alum co-wrote a series of historical adventure novels.

Their first, “Wake of the Perdido Star,” was published in 1999, followed by “Justice for None” in 2004, and “Escape from Andersonville: A Novel of the Civil War” in 2008.

Writing, Gene said, gave him a sense of control and calm. “It’s very relaxing for me,” he told Empire Online in January 2020.

Gene’s love for storytelling had roots in his family history. His father worked as a printer for the “Commercial-News” in Danville, Illinois, and both his grandfather and uncle were reporters.

Writing, in many ways, was a natural extension of his creative spirit. He even penned original monologues for his son when he briefly considered acting, giving his writing a personal connection to his family.

While Gene stepped away from the spotlight, his life remained rich with adventure. According to DailyMail, he embraced a hands-on, grounded lifestyle in Santa Fe.

In his 70s, he once floored a man with a single punch and, well into his 80s, could be seen riding an e-bike around town. Both Gene and Betsy were licensed pilots and often took to the skies in their Pitts Special planes.

Friends close to the couple revealed that Gene’s health had been declining in the months leading up to his death.

In an exclusive interview with People, longtime family friends Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, along with their son Aaron, shared that the legendary actor had become “essentially kind of home-bound” in recent times.

Barbara noted that Gene stopped riding his bike around the neighborhood about a year earlier, and Aaron said Betsy made efforts to keep him mentally and physically active, arranging daily puzzles and Zoom yoga sessions for him.

According to the Lenihan family, Betsy was in excellent health herself and remained fit and active.

Aaron added that she was particularly cautious about COVID-19, often wearing a mask when visiting friends.

The couple was described as deeply connected — a loving, protective pair who were not only devoted to each other but also enjoyed hosting friends at their home, which included a special studio space housing Betsy’s grand pianos and Gene’s art studio.

As Barbara recalled to People, “Gene was as proud of Betsy as she was of him.”

The star couple had lived a quiet life in Santa Fe since their marriage in 1991. As recently as 2020, sources described Gene as still active, enjoying yard work, handyman projects, and bike rides.

Although Gene and Betsy never had children together, the late actor remained close to his three children from a previous marriage: Leslie, Elizabeth, and Christopher.

In the years before his death, Gene had reportedly grown even closer to his children and grandchildren. While Gene and Betsy preferred a private life away from the spotlight, they were occasionally seen in public together.

One of the last times they were photographed was during an outing in late March 2024.

Gene was pictured leaning on his black cane with his right hand while holding onto Betsy Arakawa’s arm with his left. The couple was seen enjoying a date at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Albuquerque.

After news of Gene and his wife’s deaths broke, conspiracy theories quickly surfaced. Actor Randy Quaid, a fellow Academy Award nominee, posted on X, “Gene Hackman and his wife are murder victims, some [expletive] did it and staged it. Stop talking about the films he is in, this is how they get away with murdering famous people!”

Randy also claimed to know at least six celebrities who died under similarly suspicious circumstances, comparing Gene Hackman’s death to those of David Carradine and Heath Ledger.

Despite such speculation, investigators have not found evidence supporting foul play, and the final autopsy and toxicology reports are expected to provide clearer answers.