Hollywood icon Gene Hackman had likely been deceased for more than a week before he and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found in their New Mexico home, the local sheriff revealed on Friday.
Authorities have launched an investigation into what they described as suspicious deaths, as questions mount over how the revered actor passed away.
Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza informed reporters that the couple’s partially mummified bodies bore no external injuries, and initial tests ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause of death.
Early theories, including suggestions from Hackman’s family, had pointed to the possibility of toxic fumes.
However, Mendoza said that preliminary examinations had helped determine a more specific timeframe for Hackman’s death.
“An initial interrogation of Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker was conducted, revealing that its last recorded activity was on February 17, 2025,” Mendoza stated. “It is a reasonable assumption that this was the day he passed away.”
The 95-year-old Oscar-winning actor and his 63-year-old wife, a classical pianist, were discovered on Wednesday, when emergency responders were called after maintenance workers were unable to access their expansive property.
Upon arrival, first responders found the front door unlocked and ajar.
Arakawa’s body was located in the bathroom with scattered pills nearby, while Hackman’s fully clothed body was found in another room, with a pair of sunglasses beside him—suggesting he may have collapsed suddenly.
A German Shepherd was also found dead in the bathroom, while two other dogs in the home were unharmed.
Mendoza stated that authorities were now focused on piecing together the couple’s final days, examining planners, mobile phones, and any available surveillance footage.
Toxicology tests, which may shed light on the pills found near Arakawa, are still pending.
Investigators have found the process particularly challenging due to the couple’s reclusive lifestyle.
“It is well understood that they were very private individuals and maintained a very private family life,” Mendoza said.
Hackman’s family released a statement on Thursday, February 27, 2025, expressing their heartbreak over his passing.
“He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us, he was always just Dad and Grandpa,” wrote his daughters Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, along with granddaughter Annie Hackman. “We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
A two-time Academy Award winner, Hackman was celebrated for his deeply authentic portrayals of complex characters, shaped by his difficult upbringing.
He gained widespread acclaim for his role as the tough and unrefined New York detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in the 1971 thriller The French Connection, which earned him an Oscar for Best Actor.
He won a second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1992 for his role as the ruthless sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett in the western Unforgiven.
Hackman’s legacy spans decades of cinema, with a career that extended well into his 70s before he quietly stepped away from Hollywood. His passing marks the loss of one of the industry’s most respected and compelling performers.
