Oscar-Winning Legendary Actor Gene Hackman, Wife & Their Dog Found Dead At US Home

New York: Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead at their Santa Fe home in USA’s New Mexico.

Hackman was 95 and his wife, a classical pianist, was 63.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the death and said the case is under investigation.

“We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail. This is an active investigation. However, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor,” said Mendoza, as quoted by the BBC.

Hackman was an intense character actor who played over 100 roles in 80-plus movies as well as television and stage in a career spanning more than five decades.

Double Oscar awardee

Hackman won two Oscars — best actor for his role as Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in the violent 1971 drug saga ‘The French Connection’, and best supporting actor for playing Little Bill Daggett in the 1992 western ‘Unforgiven’.

Hackman also won two BAFTA and four Golden Globe awards.

He was also popular for playing Lex Luthor in the original Superman films starring Christopher Reeve.

His final screen appearance was in the 2004 film ‘Welcome to Mooseport’.

Hackman continued to work in television, and was narrator in the 2017 documentary ‘We the Marines’.

Personal life

Married twice, Hackman had three children. His first marriage to Faye Maltese lasted 30 years (1956 to 86). Hackman then married Arakawa in 1991.

Born in 1930, Hackman served in the United States Marine Corps for four years (1947-51) before his film career started.