Tue, 06 May 2025
Actor Gene Hackman, wife found dead at New Mexico home

Actor Gene Hackman, wife found dead at New Mexico home

Voice of America
27 Feb 2025, 15:43 GMT+10

Oscar-winning American actor Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead Wednesday at their home in the southwestern U.S. state of New Mexico.

Authorities said they were investigating what caused their deaths but that foul play was not suspected as a factor.

Authorities said they went to the home to do a welfare check and found the 95-year-old Hackman and his wife, 64-year-old pianist Betsy Arakawa, dead along with their dog.

Hackman had a lengthy career on stage and screen, including appearing in Broadway shows, on television and in more than 80 films.

He won an Oscar for best actor for his role in the 1971 film The French Connection and a best supporting Oscar for the 1992 film Unforgiven.

Hackman’s resume featured three other Oscar nominations, including his breakout role in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967 as well as I Never Sang for My Father in 1970 and Mississippi Burning in 1988.

His work crossed genres as he appeared in action movies, thrillers and offbeat comedies.

In addition to his award-nominated works, he was also known for roles in films such as The Poseidon Adventure, Young Frankenstein, Superman, Hoosiers, The Birdcage, and The Royal Tenenbaums.

His last film was Welcome to Mooseport in 2004.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

    16x9 Image16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

More Winnipeg News

Access More

Sign up for Winnipeg News

a daily newsletter full of things to discuss over drinks.and the great thing is that it's on the house!