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By Megan Cartwright
Associate News Editor
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Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog were found dead at their home in New Mexico on Wednesday.
The Santa Fe New Mexican cited County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, who confirmed the news to the newspaper. He said there was no immediate indication of foul play in their deaths.
"This is an active and ongoing investigation," a spokesperson said via email to Newsweek.
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Who Was Betsy Arakawa?
Betsy Arakawa, 63, was a former classical pianist and businesswoman. Born in Hawaii, she built a career in music before transitioning into entrepreneurship. Arakawa was co-owner of a Santa Fe-based home furnishing business, which she operated for years.
The couple met while she was working part-time in a gym in California, and they wed in 1991. The two lived a quiet life in Santa Fe, where Hackman, 95, had retired after stepping away from Hollywood in 2004. Unlike her husband's highly public career, Arakawa preferred to stay out of the spotlight, focusing on their life together away from the entertainment industry.
While speaking with The Irish Independent in 2000, Hackman said: ''Where we live, in Santa Fe, you can lead your own life and not be bothered by the latest gossip. Besides, a film actor doesn't have to live in L.A. Not that many movies are shot there anymore.''
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She Was Involved in Renovating Their New Mexico Home
In April 1990, Hackman and Arakawa's New Mexico home was featured in Architectural Digest, and Arakawa was involved in the remodeling process. The outlet reported at the time: "Betsy Arakawa was on the site much of the time, consulting with Hackman by phone and sending photographs of the work in progress."
Architect Stephen Samuelson said Hackman was just as engaged. "He's a deeply involved client, very artistic, very keen on details," Samuelson shared. "We had to call him and send sketches constantly. If we didn't, we'd get a call in a few days: 'Hello, this is Gene Hackman. Do you remember me?'"
She Liked DVD Date Nights With Hackman
Hackman gave fans a rare glimpse into his date nights with Arakawa during a chat with Empire film magazine in 2020, noting that they enjoyed watching "DVDs that my wife rents."
"We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce," the four-time Golden Globe Award winner said.
The publication reported that "every Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon, with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard."
"The speed of thought is amazing," Hackman said at the time.
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Previously, Hackman was married to his first wife Faye Maltese from 1956 until 1986, and they shared three children together—son Christopher Allen and daughters Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne.
In an interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 2021, the Superman star made it clear he did not desert Maltese for Arakawa.
"I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart," Hackman said. "We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love."
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