Gene Hackman and his wife found dead at their home

Police investigating but 'do not believe foul play was a factor'

by Amber Wilkinson

Gene Hackman as Harry Caul in The Conversation
Gene Hackman as Harry Caul in The Conversation

Oscar-winner Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, police have confirmed.

The star, who retired after 2004 comedy Welcome To Mooseport, was 95. Classical pianist Arakawa, who wed the French Connection star in 1991, was 63.

A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico said: "We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail.

"This is an active investigation, however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor."

Hackman won the best actor Oscar as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in William Friedkin's 1971 thriller The French Connection, and went on to take the best supporting equivalent for playing Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood's Western Unforgiven in 1992.

He was also Oscar-nominated for Bonnie And Clyde, I Never Sang For My Father and Mississippi Burning.

Across a four decade film career, the star was also celebrated for roles including Harry Caul in The Conversation, Lex Luthor in the Superman films and Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenebaums.

Share this with others on...
News

Bit by the bug Angus Silver on the imagery, music and creepy crawly wonders of Insectasy

Precision filmmaking Casey Walker on setting rules, layering complexity, and making Home Bodies

A dangerous woman Rebecca De Mornay on finding characters' truth and making The Gentleman Thief

Divine transformation Eriko Katagiri on the itako tradition and When You Open The Door

Learning to let go Gloria Mercer and Bethany Brown on filming sex, drugs and A Safe Distance

Framing a feature Michele Fiascaris on expanding his short Rain Catcher into a rain-slicked noir thriller

More news and features

We're bringing you news, reviews and more from the Fantasia International Film Festival.



We're looking forward to the Locarno Film Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Frightfest.

We've recently brought you coverage of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Muslim International Film Festival, Docs Ireland, Sheffield DocFest, ImagineNative, Tribeca and Cannes.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Dinard Amira Casar to head jury, plus opening film announced


San Sebastian Leigh, Naishtat and Larraín among those joining line-up


Fantasia Nighborn is Cheval Noir Best Film; full list of award winners announced


Frightfest Full line-up announced


Sarajevo Festival to honour Asghar Farhadi and present tribute programme