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Hollywood legend Gene Hackman has taken his final bow, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the tragic news. He revealed the acting veteran was discovered alongside his deceased wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, and their dog.
The couple and their pet were found dead on Wednesday afternoon in their home in the Santa Fe Summit community northeast of the city. In an interview that evening, Sheriff Mendoza revealed there was no immediate indication of foul play. However, he did not provide a cause of death or share when the couple might have died, per Santa Fe New Mexican.
All About the Late Actor Gene Hackman
The TV personality was born Eugene Allen Hackman in San Bernardino, California, in 1930. His family moved frequently before settling in Danville, Illinois, where his father worked for a newspaper press. Unfortunately, the patriarch left the family when Hackman was 13, a life-changing moment for the actor.
In a 2013 interview, Hackman reflected on how his father left while waving goodbye. “It was so precise. Maybe that’s why I became an actor. I doubt I would’ve become so sensitive to human behavior if that hadn’t happened to me as a child — if I hadn’t realized how much one small gesture can mean,” he said.
Although his father’s last gesture might have influenced his desire to act, the path to stardom was riddled with troubles. During his first marriage to Faye Maltese, Hackman joined the renowned Pasadena Playhouse, but he didn’t last long. After getting kicked out, he strived to prove them wrong by pursuing an acting career in New York City, per PEOPLE.
Inside the Late Entertainer’s Rise to Fame
While in New York, Hackman took small parts as they came, hoping for a big break. His luck did not change until his mid-thirties when he played Warren Beatty’s brother in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde. The role finally got him noticed for his skills, and he scored his first Oscar nomination in 1968.
Hackman received his second nomination for Best Supporting Actor three years later, thanks to his role in I Never Sang for My Father. However, he scored his first Oscar win in 1972 thanks to his leading role in The French Connection. He went on to star in more successful projects like Lex Luthor in 1978’s Superman and 1986’s Hoosiers.
After enjoying a celebrated career, Hackman retired from acting following his performance in the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport. He doubled down on his retirement four years later, stressing it would take a lot for him to make another film. When asked how he would like to be remembered in a 2011 interview, Hackman said:
“As a decent actor. As someone who tried to portray what was given to them in an honest fashion. I don’t know beyond that.”
Hackman died at 95, while Arakawa, his wife of over 30 years, was 64. The couple tied the knot in 1991 but did not welcome children. Instead, the late actor has a son and two daughters from his first marriage to Maltese, who passed away in 2017.
May the couple’s souls rest in peace.
