Two-time Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their home next to their dog in Santa Fe, New Mexico on February 26.
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office confirmed the sad news on February 27, according to NY post. Police said there were no signs of foul play and have not yet released a cause of death.
Gene Hackman turned 95 at the end of January. His wife was 63 this year. The actor and his wife have lived in seclusion in Santa Fe for many years. Last March, the couple was rarely seen outside when they went out to eat at a local restaurant. Gene walked down the street with a cane and held his wife's hand.
Gene Hackman was born on January 30, 1930, in California. He is one of the most successful actors of all time, winning two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. He won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in the 1971 action film The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor for his role as the villainous sheriff in the 1992 Western Unforgiven. He also received three more Oscar nominations for his roles in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and Mississippi Burning (1988).
His other notable performances include playing Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and its sequel Superman II (1980). Gene Hackman appeared in more than 100 films and television shows as well as numerous plays over five decades of acting.
When presenting Gene Hackman with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2003, actor Michael Caine called Hackman "one of the greatest actors" he had ever known. Comedian Robin Williams, who co-presented the award, joked: "Gene Hackman is known in Hollywood as an actor's actor, but in my house, he's known as a comedian's comedian. Whether it's comedy or drama, he's the best actor in America. He's also a truly extraordinary person."
After starring in Welcome to Mooseport (2004), Gene Hackman announced his retirement to take a break because he could no longer handle the stress.
Gene Hackman has been married twice, with three children from his first marriage to Faye Maltese (1956–1986). In 1991, the actor married classical pianist Betsy Arakawa.
