American actor Gene Hackman (95 years old) and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead on Wednesday in their own home in Santa Fe County, along with their dog. The tragic news was confirmed by the police.
The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office stated to Sky News that the investigation is ongoing and currently there is no indication of suspicious death.
Spokesperson Denise Avila stated that the police responded to a request to check on their well-being on Wednesday around 1:45 PM local time and found Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog deceased.
Born in California, Eugene Hackman was born on January 30, 1930. His parents moved from town to town, eventually settling in Danville, Illinois.
Hackman enlisted in the Marine Corps at 16, serving four and a half years in China, Japan, and Hawaii, before attempting to earn a degree in journalism and television production at the University of Illinois.
Hackman was one of the greatest actors of all time, known for his roles in "The French Connection," "Bonnie and Clyde," and "The Royal Tenenbaums." Throughout his career that began in the early '60s, Gene Hackman appeared in over 80 films, as well as TV series and stage plays.
In 1972, he won the Oscar for Best Actor for "The French Connection," a film that solidified his status as a leading actor. The police thriller includes one of the best car chase scenes of all time, with stunts defying death through 26 blocks of Brooklyn - all done illegally. Surprisingly, everyone seemed to have come off the set without a scratch.
After "The French Connection," which he claims to have watched only once, Hackman continued to star in "Young Frankenstein" (1974), "Night Moves" (1975), "Bite the Bullet" (1975), "Superman" (1978), and even Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" (1992), which earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Hackman headlined in major productions, portraying a wandering reverend in "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972), an unlucky high school basketball coach in "Hoosiers" (1986), a cunning tax lawyer in "The Firm" (1993), and an eccentric father in "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001).
He was also known for his role as Lex Luthor in the "Superman" films from the late '70s and '80s and appeared in "The Conversation" and "Mississippi Burning."
After over 100 appearances in film and television productions, Hackman took his final bow in 2004's "Welcome to Mooseport," retiring from the screen - and stunts - in New Mexico.
His wife, 63-year-old Betsy Arakawa, was a pianist.
The couple married in 1991 and lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hackman was married twice and had three children.