Gene Hackman Dead: Superman Actor Found Dead with Wife

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95-year-old Gene Hackman, renowned for his Academy Award-winning roles in films like ‘The French Connection,’ ‘Unforgiven,’ and the ‘Superman’ series as Lex Luthor, has passed away. Tragically, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, aged 63, was also found deceased at their residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

No Foul Play Suspected

On Wednesday afternoon, authorities paid a visit to their home. According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, they are currently investigating the cause of death, but there’s no indication of any wrongdoing. It seems that the couple’s pet dog has also tragically passed away, based on local reports.

On February 26, 2025, at around 1:45 p.m., deputies from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at an Old Sunset Trail address in Hyde Park. There they discovered the bodies of Gene Hackman (age 95) and his wife Betsy Arakawa (age 64), along with their pet dog, who had all unfortunately passed away. This information was released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, as reported by Fox News.

Hackman had three children with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese.

The cause of death is under investigation; we’ll update when news becomes available.

A Legendary Hollywood Career

1930 marked the birth of Gene Hackman, who embarked on an acting career following his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. His big break came with the 1967 film “Bonnie and Clyde,” which earned him an Oscar nomination. However, it was “The French Connection” (1971) that brought him his first Academy Award. He later secured a second Oscar for his performance in “Unforgiven” (1992).

Additionally, Hackman left a significant impression in the 1978 film “Superman” where he played Lex Luthor, sharing the screen with the late Christopher Reeve in the Richard Donner movies. He also appeared in “The Conversation” (1974), “Hoosiers” (1986), “The Birdcage” (1996), and “The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001). After his role in “Welcome to Mooseport” (2004), Hackman switched his focus towards writing novels.

One time, Clint Eastwood persuaded him to be part of the movie “Unforgiven,” stating that no one else could fill his shoes for that role. To this day, his influence on cinema and narrative continues to leave an indelible mark.

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2025-02-27 13:31