Actor Gene Hackman has died alongside his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, and their dog at home in New Mexico. Gene Hackman , 95 year old actor and Arakawa , 64 year old, were seen dead in separate rooms at around 1.45 PM, Wednesday. Even though foul play is not suspected at this stage, the exact cause has not been determined. Initial findings from preliminary autopsies performed show there was “no external trauma to either individual.” Official autopsy and toxicology reports are pending. Carbon monoxide and toxicology tests have been requested for both Hackman and Arakawa, according to the official release.
Scattered pills were found near the body of Arakawa, who was found lying inside a bathroom with an open bottle of pills on a countertop nearby. A space heater was found near her head and a dog was found dead in the bathroom closet. Hackman’s body was discovered on the ground in another room. The investigating agency “suspected the male individual (had) suddenly fallen.” Both Hackman and Arakawa appeared to have died days earlier. Two other dogs were found in other parts of the property. The front door was open and unsecured, and there were no signs of forced entry or theft.
In a career that spanned over four decades, Hackman received two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.
Hackman’s two Academy Award wins were for Best Actor for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in William Friedkin‘s action thriller The French Connection (1971) and for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a villainous Sheriff in Clint Eastwood‘s Western film Unforgiven (1992). He was also Oscar-nominated for three other roles: that of Buck Barrow in the crime drama Bonnie and Clyde (1967); a college professor in the drama I Never Sang for My Father (1970); and an FBI agent in the historical drama Mississippi Burning (1988).
Hackman gained further fame for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and its sequels Superman II (1980) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). He also acted in: The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Scarecrow (1973), The Conversation (1974), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Under Fire (1983), Power (1986), Loose Cannons (1990), The Firm (1993), The Quick and the Dead (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Enemy of the State (1998), Behind Enemy Lines (2001), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and Runaway Jury (2003). He retired from acting after starring in Welcome to Mooseport (2004).
Hackman’s daughters–Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman–and granddaughter Annie said they were “devastated by the loss.” Shajil Anthru, Chairman of K M Anthru Foundation and Chief editor of Litterateur Redefining World said in his condolences that “ the demise of the veteran and his wife is shocking. We had lost a true artist”
