Active And Ongoing Investigation' Underway On Death Of Gene Hackman, Wife And Dog

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's office said on Thursday that an "active, ongoing investigation" is underway regarding the deaths of legendary actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog.

County Sheriff's public information officer, Denise Womack Avila, said that "foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time," but clarified that "at this time however exact cause of death has not been determined."

Hackman, 95, was found dead along with Arakawa, 64, after deputies were called on Wednesday afternoon to their home in the New Mexico city to perform a welfare check. Their bodies were identified the next day.

Hackman had largely been away from the public eye after retiring some 20 years ago. The Associated Press detailed that in his later years he wrote novels. He told Empire film magazine in 2020 that he and Arakawa liked to watch DVDs she rented. "We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce," he said back then.

Hackman won two Oscars for his acting: one for "The French Connection" in 1972 and another one for "Unforgiven" 20 years later. Overall he was nominated five times. His death comes just days before the next Academy Awards ceremony.