Legendary Hollywood Actor, Gene Hackman, Dies Alongside Wife, Dog

Hollywood legend Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist, and their dog were discovered dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home.

Although local authorities claim there is no suspicion of foul play, an inquiry is being conducted to determine the cause of the tragic deaths.

The 95-year-old Oscar winner, who starred in films such as Superman, The Conversation, The French Connection, and The Poseidon Adventure, passed away.

Hackman and his wife, classical musician Betsy Arakawa, were discovered dead Wednesday afternoon in their Santa Fe Summit house northeast of the city, according to a statement from Santa Fe New Mexican County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.

"We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday," the police department was quoted as saying.

Hackman married 63-year-old Arakawa in 1991 after relocating to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the 1980s.

On Wednesday afternoon, sheriff's deputies showed up at the couple's house in the gated neighborhood of Old Sunset Trail to look into the deaths of a dog and two elderly people. It was unclear if the deputies were doing a welfare check at the residence or in response to a report of the deaths.

Mendoza first claimed that the deputies found the bodies of a woman in her 60s and a man in his 90s.

Hackman received two Oscars: one for best supporting actor in Clint Eastwood's 1992 western "Unforgiven," and another for a prominent part in William Friedkin's 1971 action film "The French Connection."

In addition to his appearances in The Conversation and Mississippi Burning, he was well-known for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in the Superman movies of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

During a long career that began in the early 1960s, the former US Marine had appearances on television, the stage, and in over 80 films.

His breakthrough performance as the brother of bank robber Clyde Barrow in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde won him his first Oscar nomination.

He is well known for costarring with Denzel Washington as Captain Frank Ramsey in the 1995 thriller Crimson Tide.

Hackman withdrew from acting following his last movie role in 2004's Welcome to Mooseport and started co-writing adventure books with friend and underwater archaeologist Daniel Lenihan.

With his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese, who passed away in 2017, Hackman had three children: Christopher, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne.