Gene Hackman's neighbor requested complete welfare check before his and wife's bodies were found

SANTA FE, FLORIDA: Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe residence alongside their pet dog.

Authorities emphasized that while the case remains an active investigation, there is currently no evidence suggesting foul play.

Police respond to Gene Hackman's concerned neighbor’s call

Authorities were called to the residence of Hackman and his wife, Arakawa, 64, on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park, Santa Fe, at approximately 1.45 pm on Wednesday, February 26, reported Mirror.

According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, a concerned neighbor had requested a welfare check on the couple.

Officers arrived at the scene in the afternoon, but the bodies were not officially identified until 12.30 am on Thursday morning, August 27.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement confirming that Hackman, his wife, and their dog were found deceased inside the home.

Sheriff’s office confirms no immediate danger to the community

Sheriff Adan Mendoza addressed the public, stating, “All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation and awaiting approval of a search warrant.”

He reassured the Santa Fe community that there was no immediate danger to residents.

Although the exact cause of death has not yet been determined, law enforcement officials are working closely with medical examiners to gather further details.

Gene Hackman's life from Marine Corps to Hollywood stardom

Born in California in 1930, Gene Hackman’s journey to stardom was anything but conventional.

He left home at the age of 16 to enlist in the US Marine Corps, serving from 1947 to 1952 as a field radio operator and later as a broadcast journalist.

His time in the military instilled in him a discipline and work ethic that would later define his acting career.

Following his service, Hackman pursued studies in journalism and television production at the University of Illinois.

However, he eventually decided to follow his passion for acting, moving to New York City to train at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he formed a close friendship with fellow aspiring actor Dustin Hoffman.

Hackman’s big break came in 1967 when he starred in Bonnie and Clyde alongside Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.

His portrayal of Buck Barrow earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, paving the way for a series of acclaimed performances in films like 'The Poseidon Adventure' (1972), 'Superman' (1978), and 'Mississippi Burning' (1988).

Inside Gene Hackman's legendary Hollywood career

Throughout his six-decade career, Hackman received two Academy Awards, one for Best Actor in 'The French Connection' (1972), where he portrayed the relentless Detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle, and another for Best Supporting Actor in 'Unforgiven' (1992), a western directed by Clint Eastwood.

In addition to his Oscars, the 95-year-old actor’s stellar career earned him multiple BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.