Hollywood icon Gene Hackman, 95, found dead with his wife and dog; no foul play suspected | Hollywood News
Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pian Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their New Mexico home on Wednesday, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. He was 95. The couple lived in the Santa Fe Summit community in the city; news of their death was confirmed Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza on Thursday. Their dog was found dead with them.
No foul play is suspected, according to the authorities. “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased 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,” the Sheriff said in a statement, according to the BBC.
Hackman was born in 1930 and raised his grandmother after his father abandoned the family. He was enled in the Marines at the age of 16, and studied journalism and TV production at university after his discharge. He decided to become an actor at the age of 30, and went on to play several edgy characters over the course of his decades-long career. His first stage role came in 1958, but his film career only began in the 1960s. His breakout role came in the film Bonnie & Clyde.
Hackman retired from Hollywood decades ago, and maintained a low profile in the last several years. He didn’t make public appearances, and was rarely photographed. A two-time Oscar winner, Hackman was best known for his role in The French Connection and The Conversation. He also played Lex Luthor in Richard Donner’s Superman movie. Hackman was going to play Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, but turned the role down due to health concerns. His last big screen appearance came as Monroe Cole in Welcome to Mooseport in 2004.
