Gene Hackman, the legendary 95-year-old actor, and his 63-year-old wife, Betsy Arakawa, were recently found dead, with their final photos surfacing after the news broke on Thursday.
The couple had been together since 1991, and reports indicate that they were discovered alongside their dog.
Local authorities have confirmed that there is no indication of foul play, although the cause of their deaths has not yet been revealed.
A Rare Public Appearance and Their Final Moments Together
The last time Gene and Betsy were seen together in public was in March 2024, when they were spotted having lunch at Pappadeaux’s Seafood Kitchen in New Mexico.
The picture, which shows Hackman holding onto his wife’s arm for balance, marked a rare appearance for the actor and the first time in over two decades that they were photographed together.
Their previous public sighting had been in 2003 at the Golden Globe Awards, where Hackman received the prestigious Cecil B. deMille Award.
Gene Hackman had long stepped away from the spotlight, with his last film role in the 2004 comedy Welcome to Mooseport.
Shortly after, he confirmed that he was retiring from acting during an interview with Larry King, where he revealed that he had no upcoming film projects.
Hackman later emphasized his retirement when promoting his third novel, Escape from Andersonville, in 2008.
The Actor’s Transition from Film to Writing
In an interview, Hackman explained his shift from acting to writing, revealing how much he enjoyed the solitude that comes with creating novels.
He expressed that writing allowed him more control and felt more private compared to acting, where compromises often had to be made.
Hackman stated that he had no intention of returning to acting unless a perfect opportunity came up, and even then, he imagined doing it on his own terms, in the comfort of his own home.
Though Hackman stepped away from the big screen, he wasn’t entirely absent from the entertainment industry.
He lent his voice to narrate two Marine Corps documentaries, The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima (2016) and We, The Marines (2017).
Gene Hackman’s Personal Life and Legacy
Gene Hackman had been married once before, divorcing his first wife, Faye Maltese, in 1986 after three decades of marriage and raising three children together.
He married Betsy Arakawa in 1991, and despite their 30-year age gap, their bond remained strong.
Arakawa, a retired classical pianist, was often described as Hackman’s supportive partner, and in an interview from 2020, Hackman shared how they enjoyed quiet, simple nights together.
They would often watch low-budget films and comedy marathons, with particular affection for Eddie Izzard’s witty performances.
Hackman’s career, which started with his breakthrough role in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967, spanned decades and included iconic roles in films like Superman, The French Connection, and Get Shorty.
His Oscar-winning talent and contributions to the film industry will forever be remembered, even as he quietly stepped away from the public eye.