Legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found deceased in their Santa Fe Summit home on Wednesday, February 26. The couple, who had been married since 1991 and maintained a private life, showed no immediate signs of foul play, though authorities continue to investigate.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived at their residence on Old Sunset Trail that afternoon to look into the deaths of two elderly individuals and a dog. It remains unclear whether officers were responding to a welfare check or another alert.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed just after midnight on Thursday that the 95-year-old two-time Oscar winner, his 63-year-old wife, and their dog had passed away. While the cause and time of death have not yet been determined, Mendoza emphasized that there is no immediate threat to public safety.
The couple had lived in Santa Fe since the 1980s, in a gated community near Ten Thousand Waves. Authorities are currently in the early stages of their investigation and are awaiting approval for a search warrant.
