Gene Hackman’s neighbour ‘welfare call’ to police before bodies were found
New details are emerging on the tragic deaths of Oscar winner Gene Hackman at the age of 95, his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and their pet dog.
The couple and their beloved pet were all found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Police were called to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park at 1:45p.m on Wednesday, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriffs office also revealed to US news station KOB 4 that the forces attended Hackman’s address in response to a call from a neighbour who urged them to complete a welfare check on the actor and his wife, according to People.
The outlet added that despite police attending the property early on Wednesday afternoon, Gene and Betsy’s bodies weren’t able to be identified until 12:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.
Read updates on the tragic death of Gene Hackman and wife Besty Arakwa in the Mirror’s live blog HERE.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the couple, who had been married since 1991, were found dead along with their dog on Wednesday afternoon in their Santa Fe home. The police previously said the case is currently an active investigation.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that both Hackman and Arakawa had passed away, along with their dog. Mendoza added that there was no foul play, but gave no further details about the time or cause of death. A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office read: “On February 26, 2025 at approximately 1:45 p.m., 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.”
While the cause of death is yet to be determined, Sheriff Mendoza added: “All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant,” and shared “I want to assure the community and neighbourhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone.”
Hollywood star Hackman received two Oscars, two Baftas, four Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild Award in an acting career which spanned six decades. He secured the best actor Oscar in 1972 for his role as Detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in The French Connection. Hackman landed a further Academy Award in the best supporting actor category for his part in 1992 western Unforgiven, directed by Clint Eastwood.
Born in California in 1930, Hackman 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 titular roles, which landed him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor.
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