Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman (95), his wife classical pianist Betsy Arakawa (63, and their German Shepherd dog was found dead in their bathroom, at Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park, on 26^th February 2025, around 1:45am, in the US state of New Mexico, according to the  Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office. 

Gene Hackman who played more than 100 roles during his career, including Lex Luthor in the Chrisopher Reeve-starring Superman movies in the 1970s and 1980s, won two Academy Awards for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin’s 1971 thriller, The French Connection and best supporting actor for playing Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s Western film Unforgiven in 1992. Hackman’s breakthrough came in his thirties, when he was nominated for an Oscar for portraying Buck Burrow in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde – opposite Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway and again for I Never Sang for My Father in 1970, both films in the supporting actor category. He was also nominated for best leading actor in 1988 for playing the FBI agent in Mississippi Burning. Hackman also featured opposite to Al Pacino in 1973;s Scarecrow and Gene Wilder in 1974’s Young Frankenstein.

Elizabeth, Leslie and Annie Hackman, said “ He has loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad, Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss”.

Near Ms Arakawa’s head was a portable heater, which the detective determined could have been brought down in the event that she abruptly fell to the ground.

A prescription bottle and scattered pills were on the bathroom countertop close to her body.