Inside Gene Hackman’s Home: A Look at His Private Life with His Wife and Dog
Photo of Gene Hackman’s House Where He Was Found Dead with His Wife and Dog – Inside His Life There
Gene Hackman spent his final years in the Santa Fe house he meticulously renovated, distant from the spotlight. The expansive property was intended to be a tranquil haven, encircled by miles of open space. However, after a maintenance worker made a disturbing discovery, it is now the focus of an investigation.
The bodies of Hollywood icon Gene Hackman and his spouse, Betsy Arakawa, and one of their pets were discovered inside their Santa Fe residence. The couple had spent years living in the remote home, out of the spotlight.
The house that used to be their private haven is now the focus of a continuing inquiry. One picture provides a unique look into the location where they spent their last days while investigators look for explanations.
The Finding of Hackman and the Death of His Wife
A maintenance worker showed up for normal work at Hackman’s Santa Fe residence on the afternoon of February 26, 2025. He saw the front door was open as he got closer to the residence. He observed a woman lying on the floor inside through a window.
He reported what he saw to 911 after being unable to enter the locked house. Authorities discovered his wife, Arakawa, 63, in the restroom and Hackman, 95, lying in the entryway. A cane stood next to Hackman’s body, and a space heater stood beside Arakawa’s head.
Officers found the couple’s German shepherd deceased in a kennel in a bathroom closet. Two other dogs, one outside and one inside the house, were discovered alive. No evidence of struggle, forced entry, or lost property was reported by investigators.
“There was no sign of a struggle,” said Sheriff Adan Mendoza. There was no sign of anything being disturbed or missing from the house, which would have been a sign of a crime having been committed.
There were no leaks discovered when the New Mexico Gas Co. examined the house’s gas pipes. The Fire Department found no signs of toxicity after testing for carbon monoxide exposure. Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities, though, and the findings of the toxicology and autopsy are still pending.
Although no findings have been reached, the search warrant document indicates that detectives took gas poisoning into consideration as a possible reason. Officials are still investigating the deaths to find out what transpired inside the Santa Fe residence.
The Life of Hackman in Santa Fe
Hackman lived away from the limelight of Hollywood in Santa Fe in his later years. He retired from acting in 2004 at the age of 74, having worked for fifty years. He left in a manner as modest as his distinguished career.
He announced his retirement from acting without any fanfare, press release, or public notice. Rather, the “Superman” actor and his spouse chose to live a quiet, private life. Neither industry shenanigans nor a waning interest in the craft led him to decide to resign.
“I was getting great offers, but the roles were mostly doddering great-grandfathers,” remarked the man. Instead, it was a question of health and individual welfare. Thinking back on the pivotal time, Hackman described an instance that influenced his choice to retire.
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” Hackman said. “The doctor advised me that my heart wasn’t in the kind of shape that I should be putting it under any stress.” He never went back to acting because he took their warnings seriously.
He and his wife, Arakawa, adopted a tranquil and modest way of life in Santa Fe. The pair avoided interviews and public appearances in order to maintain a low profile. Hackman devoted his days to his hobbies, such as renovating his house and writing novels.
According to a source in 2020, he continued to be active despite his advanced age, taking on handyman tasks, riding his bike, and working in the yard. He had completely renovated the house where he lived in his latter years to fit his vision.
Inside the Hackman Remodeled Home in Santa Fe
With expansive views that reach as far as the Colorado mountains, Hackman’s Santa Fe house is situated on 12 acres of open space. He bought the property and undertook major modifications to transform it to his preference after being drawn to the location while filming multiple films there.
The project’s architect, Stephen Samuelson, remembered the house’s condition before to the renovation. “The house was horrible,” he said. “It was a 1950s block building that had sat empty and had deteriorated.”
In contrast to conventional adobe dwellings, Hackman and Arakawa desired an open layout with high ceilings, French doors, and natural light. In order to accomplish this, they reorganized the inside to create wider areas and removed 90% of the roof.
The final design of the house combined Spanish Baroque, colonial New Mexico, and pueblo elements. “It’s more primitive, like a barn converted into a house, massive and cozy at the same time,” remarked Samuelson.
Every aspect of the makeover was individually managed by Hackman, who also chose the finishes, mixed the paint colors, and made sure the new ceiling beams were distressed to give them an old appearance.
The house was decorated by the couple using items from Los Angeles, Germany, and New York. He continued to be active even after retiring, devoting a large portion of his time to home improvement and upkeep.
The Life of Hackman and Arakawa Together
Hackman wasn’t the only person interested in building a life in Santa Fe, even as he concentrated on remodeling his house. For more than thirty years, his wife, Arakawa, actively shaped the area they shared.
Arakawa worked part-time at a fitness center in Los Angeles, where she first met Hackman in the early 1980s. Hackman was still wed to his first wife, Faye Maltese, at the time, but their union was ending.
He began dating Arakawa in 1984, and she moved into his Santa Fe house prior to the completion of his divorce. After 30 years of marriage, Hackman and Maltese’s divorce was formalized in 1986. In 1991, Hackman and Arakawa got married after continuing their romance.
Hackman had a close relationship with his three children from his first marriage, Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne, despite the fact that they never had children together. The couple lived a calm and private life together in Santa Fe for over thirty years.
Arakawa was heavily involved in Hackman’s home remodeling projects and frequently oversaw parts of them while he was gone. In order to concentrate on their life together away from Hollywood, they stayed out of the spotlight.
The Literary and Film Legacy of Hackman
Hackman’s decades-long Hollywood career created a lasting impression, even though he lived a private life in his final years. He was renowned for his ability to bring complicated characters to life and had established himself as one of the most recognized actors of his time before retiring.
After making his breakthrough in 1967 with “Bonnie and Clyde,” he went on to star in highly regarded movies like “Superman” and “Hoosiers.” He received four Golden Globes and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for “Unforgiven” (1992) and Best Actor for “The French Connection” (1971).
“Welcome to Mooseport” was his last Hollywood production, released in 2004. He starred in more than 90 movies and television series during the course of his more than 40-year career. He wrote and published a number of novels in his retirement, including thrillers and historical fiction.
Even though he avoided the spotlight, his literary and cinematic contributions made a lasting impression and cemented his status as one of the best actors of his period.
Hackman’s Final Public Outing and the Responses of Fans
Since Hackman rarely appeared in public after retirement, his last glimpse in March 2024 was all the more noteworthy. He was spotted with Arakawa at the age of 94, one of their infrequent public appearances together in well than 20 years.
Wearing a gray vest over a plaid button-down shirt, Hackman accessorized his ensemble with green-gray cargo pants, a cap, and sunglasses. He was still able to move, but he supported himself with a cane in one hand while Arakawa helped him with the other.
Fans responded strongly to his fragile appearance, with many expressing surprise at how much he had changed. One user said, “It’s sad to see him getting older,” while another said, “That doesn’t look like him at all,” and “That doesn’t look like #genehackman.”
“I love him,” another person wrote. But I never would have recognized him. One comment in particular emphasized how vulnerable he was: “It looks like the wind could take him away.” Others, on the other hand, had a more favorable opinion of his appearance and highlighted his fortitude.
“At 94, he is still alive and able to move, shop, and get assistance from his wife. “That’s a victory,” remarked one admirer. “I didn’t even recognize him, I suppose he’s doing good for his 90s,” said another commenter.
Others were thankful just to see him again. “Wow, haven’t seen him in a long time but thank goodness he’s still living,” a reader said. A final comment summed up the admiration with the words, “Bless his heart at 94 years old,” while another added, “I hope I’m as mobile as him if I get to that age.”
His untimely death has caused admirers to consider his illustrious career as well as the peaceful life he led after leaving Hollywood. His influence, both on screen and in the lives of people who respected him, is still evident as detectives try to piece together what happened.
