Gene Hackman's neighbors reveal sad details about actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa's reclusive life
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Gene Hackman's neighbors revealed sad details about the actor's reclusive life just a few days after the Oscar winner, his wife, and one of their three dogs were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home, as per the Daily Mail.
On Wednesday, February 26, the body of Hackman, 95, was found on the floor of the mudroom, while his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, was found dead in a bathroom by the front door with prescription pills scattered around.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's neighbors claim the couple led a very secluded life
Two days after the couple's bodies were found, authorities revealed that Gene Hackman's pacemaker stopped recording his heartbeat on February 17. It's believed to be the day of his death.
While the authorities found no signs of foul play, their deaths were "suspicious enough" to launch a thorough investigation.
As it took nine days to find the couple's bodies, many have been wondering what might have caused the delay. Their neighbors recently revealed that the couple led a very secluded life.
'The French Connection' actor purchased his Santa Fe property in the 1980s and extensively renovated the house before relocating to it from the glamour of Los Angeles in the 2000s after his retirement, as per ABC.
One of his neighbors claimed that once there, the Oscar winner and his wife led a quiet life. Others told the New York Times that though they lived in the same community, they seldom got a glimpse of the actor who retired after decades of an illustrious acting career.
Their next-door neighbor James Everett, who has lived part-time in an adjacent house for the last five years, claimed, "They have a gate, and we have a gate, and we just have never even seen each other."
Another long-time neighbor, Bud Hamilton claimed that despite sharing the community for the last 20 years, he and his wife had dinner with Hackman and Arakawa only once.
Harvey Chalker, a longtime resident and former president of the homeowner's association, revealed that the ‘Mississippi Burning’ star’s wife mainly took care of their business and that he met the actor only once in his life - when he bought a pair of hiking shoes from his shop.
Chalker recalled, "He wanted to be quiet, he didn't want to be bothered, and I don't blame him."
Gene Hackman's friends revealed his health had been deteriorating in recent months
The neighbors opened up about the actor and his wife's living situation just a few days after Gene Hackman's friends claimed that his health had been deteriorating steadily for the last few months.
On February 28, the couple's longtime friends Daniel and Barbara Lenihan, and their son, Aaron, talked to People about Hackman and Arakawa's final months.
Daniel shared that Hackman had become "essentially kind of home-bound" recently, while his wife Barbara claimed that the nonagenarian star even stopped his routine bike rides around the neighborhood almost a year ago.
Aaron added that Arakawa tried to keep her husband lively by encouraging daily activities like puzzles and Zoom yoga sessions. "She was still trying to keep him as active and engaged and healthy as possible," he shared.
Nevertheless, despite the efforts, the actor's health was deteriorating, with Daniel and Barbara noting, "In the last couple of months, he was really slipping there."
