RIP: Gene Hackman (1930-2025)

[Brian in Mesa]

Seeing it on the New York Post, The Mirror, etc.

Legendary actor Gene Hackman, wife Betsy and dog found dead inside New Mexico home: police

Legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman has been found dead in his Santa Fe, New Mexico home alongside his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, citing police…

nypost.com

 

[oaken1]

Seeing it on the New York Post, The Mirror, etc.

Legendary actor Gene Hackman, wife Betsy and dog found dead inside New Mexico home: police

Legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman has been found dead in his Santa Fe, New Mexico home alongside his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, citing police…

nypost.com

Sucks.
Headline sounds like his wife and dog were dead too. But at the end it said he was survived by his wife.
Confusing.

RIP Mr Hackman. I was a fan

 

[AzStevenCal]

One of my favorite actors although I didn't really start appreciating his talent until Hoosiers. And watching those two heavyweights go toe to toe in Crimson Tide is one of my favorite movie moments. RIP

 

[Dback Jon]

RIP to a great actor

 

[Dback Jon]

Wife and dog were also found dead most likely all three died from carbon monoxide poisoning

Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife and dog found dead in their New Mexico home

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies found Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and a dog dead when they preformed a welfare check, a spokesperson said.

apnews.com

 

[Shane]

Loved him. Def one of my favs! RIP

 

[Ronin]

Oh no. :-(

 

[jf-08]

Damn. He was one of my favs as well.

 

[Shane]

Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths called ‘suspicious,’ bodies showed signs of ‘mummification’
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/oscar-winning-actor-gene-hackman-wife-found-dead-santa-fe-home

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths called ‘suspicious,’ bodies showed signs of ‘mummification’
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/oscar-winning-actor-gene-hackman-wife-found-dead-santa-fe-home

Yeah, when I first read it, I assumed they went to sleep and never woke up, like Weird Al's parents. Then I read another article which said they were found in different rooms, and it looked like they had been deceased for some time. Not sounding as simple as it was first reported at all.

 

[Dback Jon]

Gene Hackman and wife’s deaths called ‘suspicious,’ bodies showed signs of ‘mummification’
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/oscar-winning-actor-gene-hackman-wife-found-dead-santa-fe-home

Thanks for more details.

Did he die naturally, then she committed suicide? Lots of possibilities open with this news

 

[Dback Jon]

Yeah, when I first read it, I assumed they went to sleep and never woke up, like Weird Al's parents. Then I read another article which said they were found in different rooms, and it looked like they had been deceased for some time. Not sounding as simple as it was first reported at all.

Same.

 

[Shane]

911 caller who discovered Gene Hackman, wife dead was shocked and shaken: ‘Damn, damn, damn’

A newly released 911 recording reveals the worker who discovered the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife pleaded with authorities to get there quickly.

nypost.com

 

[PDXChris]

I just read only 1 of the 3 dogs was dead and that one was found in the bathroom closet near his deceased wife with pills scattered around her witb a heater runningnear her. So strange and sad!

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Raindog]

I just read only 1 of the 3 dogs was dead and that one was found in the bathroom closet near his deceased wife with pills scattered around her witb a heater runningnear her. So strange and sad!

You must be registered for see images attach

These details make me wonder if perhaps his wife had taken her own life (and possibly killed the dog?) and after he discovered it, he had some kind of episode of panic trying to do something, and at his age, just naturally fell and expired?

In any case, a very sad ending for a great actor. RIP.

 

[Mainstreet]

Gene Hackman was a great actor.

Rest in Peace.

 

[Cheesebeef]

RIP LEGEND

 

[Devilmaycare]

These details make me wonder if perhaps his wife had taken her own life (and possibly killed the dog?) and after he discovered it, he had some kind of episode of panic trying to do something, and at his age, just naturally fell and expired?

In any case, a very sad ending for a great actor. RIP.

I was thinking maybe the opposite. He passed and she did that after finding him out of grief. Since she spilled the pill the dog might have also gotten into them. I've sort of been hoping it's one of these scenarios and not foul play.

 

[Dback Jon]

I was thinking maybe the opposite. He passed and she did that after finding him out of grief. Since she spilled the pill the dog might have also gotten into them. I've sort of been hoping it's one of these scenarios and not foul play.

Current thinking now based on initial autopsies (and subject to change) is that she had a medical emergency in the bathroom while taking the pills. It appears a space heater also fell on her. The pill bottle spilled, the dog may have eaten the pills. Gene was found in the mudroom - appears to have fallen. Was he in a mental state to realize she was dead?

 

[Brian in Mesa]

If the dog was indeed closed in the bathroom closet and unable to get out, I assumed it starved to death without food and water. It has been reported that Gene and his wife were dead for some time.

 

[Dback Jon]

Quirky note on Hackman:

He went to Junior High and some High School in Danville, Illinois - a small city in eastern Illinois

At the same time, the following lived there:

Bobby Short (born 1924)
Donald O'Conner (born 1925)
Dick Van Dyke (born 1925)
Gene Hackman (born 1930)
Jerry Van Dyke (born 1931