Gene Hackman poses with beloved adopted dog in heartbreaking photo before his death

According to reports, Gene Hackman and his wife Betsey Arakawa, both of whom are a dog, have passed away.

Gene, 85, his wife Betsy, 63, and their dog were found in their Santa Fe home in New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said: “On February 26, 2025 at approximately 1: 45 p. m., Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95 and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64 and a dog were found deceased. At this time, foul play is not suspected to be a factor in those deaths, but the cause of death has not been determined. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an ongoing and active investigation.

Gene had a love for animals, and according to his author biography, Schuster the late star described as “living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife and two German shepherds,” one of whom the star adopted after wandering onto a movie set.

The Mirror’s live blog has updates on Gene Hackman’s tragic passing and Besty Arakwa’s wife.

On January 30th, Gene and Betsy adopted their dog from the animal shelter Animal Rescue Inc., who had just weeks before his tragic passing.

In a Facebook post, the animal rescue shelter wrote: “Happy 94th birthday to our most famous adopter Gene Hackman!! Two stray dogs entered the movie set in Baltimore in 1999 while The Replacements were being shot. The Hackmans came up the following week and adopted one of the dogs, and both dogs were transported to us by limousine. #adoptdontshop”.

Gene and his beloved pet were also included in the post’s heartbreaking photo. One of the three German Shepherds he had owned over the years, the actor and his beloved dog peek out of his car. The dog in the photo walked onto Gene’s acting career while Keanu Reeves and Gene filmed The Replacements in Baltimore. When he took them to a local shelter, in a limousine, the pups were named Gene and Keanu. Then, Jackman brought Gene into their New Mexico home.

Tributes have poured in for the actor, who had a 50-year career in Hollywood and is regarded by many as the best actor of his generation following the news of his wife’s passing. Star Trek legend George Takei shared a moving note, writing: “We have lost one of the true giants of the screen. Gene Hackman could play anyone, and the entire life of the character could be felt. He might be a powerful presence, a regular Joe, or just everyone else. That’s how powerful an actor he was. He will be missed, but his work will live on forever”.

What a remarkable life’s end, according to Piers Morgan. RIP”, while comedian Dara O Briain wrote: “Ah, Gene Hackman. The finest screen actor ever, I think. Not a single duff performance, in a long, long career. And the best delivery ever of a single word: when he says ‘ Cigars! ‘ In Young Frankenstein”.

During his career, Gene won two Academy Awards, for his roles in The French Connection in 1971 and in Unforgiven in 1992. He received awards for his roles in Mississippi Burning, I Never Sang For My Father, and Bonnie and Clyde.

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Source: Mirror