Inside Gene Hackman’s secluded Santa Fe home that became scene of tragic deaths

Gene Hackman, the father of five, and his wife Betsy, 63, were found dead in their Santa Fe home at the age of 95 with their dog.

The Hollywood legend, who is best known for his Oscar-winning roles in The French Connection and Unforgiven, was confirmed to have died at his New Mexico home by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

“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”, they said in a statement.

The exact cause of death has not been determined, but foul play is not suspected as a contributing factor to those deaths at this time. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an ongoing and active investigation.

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

In an interview with Architectural Digest back in 1990, Gene had previously revealed his picturesque Santa Fe home. He had built a house on 12 acres of hilltop land with a 360-degree view.

The 1950s block building was renovated for Gene and his wife Betsy into a “part pueblo, part colonial New Mexico, part Spanish Baroque” property.

“It had a kind of magic in it”, Gene said in the interview. “It’s totally different from my other houses. The Montecito house was very formal”.

Gene had spent his entire life in various impressive residences, including a 25-acre estate in Montecito. He described the home he shared with his ex-wife Faye Maltese as “a great deal of pleasure” and “we spent a year and a half on it.” “Continuing pleasure, you might say, because we are always working on it”.

Gene won two Oscars, two BAFTAs, and four Golden Globes for his roles in the critically acclaimed movies The French Connection and Unforgiven over the course of his six-decade career.

Speaking to GQ in 2011, Gene shared that he doesn’t keep many of his awards around the house. There is only a poster downstairs next to Errol Flynn’s pool table, he told the publication, adding that there is no movie equipment. I’m not a sentimental guy”.

In Santa Fe, Gene and his wife Betty left a 7-Eleven in cargo pants, coffee in one hand, and apple pie in another. He had earlier been spotted working in his garden on a solo trip close to his expensive home earlier in the month.

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Source: Mirror