The bodies of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 63, were discovered at their home in New Mexico on Wednesday, with police calling the circumstances “suspicious.”
Hackman, a two-time Academy Award winner, was known for his intense performances in films like “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven.” His wife, a classical pianist, was found dead in the bathroom, with pills scattered nearby. Hackman’s body was found in another room, fully clothed, with sunglasses next to him.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office said an initial inspection by the local fire department had not found high levels of carbon monoxide, but no conclusions had been drawn yet. Autopsy findings showed “no external trauma to either individual,” and toxicology tests are pending.
Hackman’s family released a statement saying they were “devastated by the loss” and would miss him sorely. Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola mourned Hackman’s death, calling him “a great artist, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity.”
Clint Eastwood, who starred alongside Hackman in “Unforgiven,” said, “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”
Hackman’s career spanned over six decades, with notable roles in films like “Bonnie and Clyde,” “The Heist,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.” He announced