The news of Gene Hackman’s sudden death at age 95 alongside his wife, 64-year-old Betsy Arakawa, shocked many. The Academy Award winner and his wife, along with one of their dogs, died inside their home in New Mexico. How the couple died remains under investigation, but their passing deeply impacted Gene’s daughters. Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman and his granddaughter, Annie, shared a statement with People regarding Gene’s passing. The family called Gene’s death devastating.
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“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy. He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene—Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. He said, “Do you think Mel would let me play it? I’ve always wanted to do a comedy.”… pic.twitter.com/hjDHROS6GA
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) February 28, 2025
Gene Hackman And His Wife’s Deaths Are Considered “Suspicious”
TMZ obtained a search warrant. A Santa Fe detective believes “the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened.”
The detective added, “Deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak.”
Many celebrities paid tribute to Gene Hackman on social media following his death. Mel Brooks wrote on X, “I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene—Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. He said, “Do you think Mel would let me play it? I’ve always wanted to do a comedy.” Needless to say, I was over the moon and he was perfect.”
This story’s featured image is by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images.
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