Gene Hackman dead at 95: Iconic actor and wife, 63, are found dead with their dog at Santa Fe home.

[Quill]

Was just kinda struck by the reference to ‘his wife’. I mean, BA and GH have been married for 35 years at this point. Why not ‘stepmother’? Or any other words about missing her? Anyway, just nattering nabobbery; I loved GH in the Royal Tenenbaums and French Connection.

That doesn't raise anything with me. My dad remarried and was married for over 20 years before he passed and we always referred to her as his wife, certainly never as a stepmother. We were all adults when they married and never thought of her as a stepmother.

 

[armchairagatha]

Was just kinda struck by the reference to ‘his wife’. I mean, BA and GH have been married for 35 years at this point. Why not ‘stepmother’? Or any other words about missing her? Anyway, just nattering nabobbery; I loved GH in the Royal Tenenbaums and French Connection.

It is quite possible that one or more of his children are older than or same age as Betsy. They wouldn't consider her "stepmother" if she was close to them in age. I find nothing extraordinary about their statement.

 

[Mihajlo]

I am curious as to what state of decay was the dog in when the bodies were discovered. I do not feel the dog's death was deliberate and believe the dog was the last to die, and his/her state of decay would clear up that part of the mystery.

 

[MassGuy]

Does anyone know if Betsy's body was found clothed or nude? this article mentions she was "uncovered", which doesn't necessarily imply she was nude. The first article I came across described the clothes Gene was wearing, but didn't specifically mention Betsy's clothing.

After Deputy Thomas entered the residence, he immediately observed a bathroom to the left of the front door. The door to the bathroom was opened. Deputy Thomas advised he observed adeceased female laying on the ground near the countertop, inside the bathroom. The female was observed laying on her right side. He advised she was found wearing dark gray sweatpants and a light in color sweatshirt. The female was observed to have black in color hair.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/santafenewmexican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/e9/7e932158-f529-11ef-a999-7baaa12b3817/67c0957ef0a13.pdf.pdf

 

[CityKid]

I assume the dog inside was drinking from the toilet but the earlier reports all said the 2 dogs were found "alive and healthy", one inside and one outside. No mention of emaciation at all.

A lot of dog owners feed dry food, and keep the stash in a place that a very hungry dog could reach. Some dogs will eat trash if nothing else is available. There may have been human food within their reach as well.

 

[arielilane]

@EastwoodMalpaso


Extremely saddened by the passing of Gene Hackman, He will be deeply missed...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895176739011305901

@morgan_freeman


One of the personal highlights of my career was bringing the French Film Gardé a Vue (Under Suspicion) to life with the incredibly gifted Gene Hackman. And of course... Unforgiven. Rest in peace, my friend.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895150696808251738

@RealJamesWoods


One of my first movies was a nice supporting role in a movie called NIGHT MOVES. I was excited, of course, because I was going to get to work with every young actor’s hero, Gene Hackman. And, since they were in town visiting, I was going to be able to invite my mom and stepfather to the set and hopefully they could meet Gene. It went far beyond a polite hello, as Gene spent an hour chatting with them, genuinely interested in their lives. That day was a model for me going forward. I have always prided myself on the way I treat fans, visitors, and friends. And I thank Gene for it. As an actor he was without equal, and as a man, he was one of a kind. Rest in peace, sir.


12:07 PM · Feb 27, 2025

 

[cenazoic]

That doesn't raise anything with me.

Fair enough and I get it in re: ‘stepmother’. The overall tone just struck me because 35 years is a long time to be in someone’s life, and to not have any words for her other than ‘his wife’ just seemed rather chilly.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

Audio of 911 call: Gene Hackman 911 Caller Emotional on Phone, Says He Can't See Anyone Moving

I find this a little odd, though perhaps it's nothing.

As per the article you linked:

However, the caller does say he can't see anyone moving inside the house ... he's not in the house with them, but outside looking through a window with no way of getting in.

Yet in this article:

The warrant application said the maintenance worker who discovered the bodies had found the home’s front door ajar, although there were no signs of forced entry

 

[BrianJohnson]

I am curious as to what state of decay was the dog in when the bodies were discovered. I do not feel the dog's death was deliberate and believe the dog was the last to die, and his/her state of decay would clear up that part of the mystery.

She was more decomposed than he was going by UK MSM but the conditions in the bathroom may have been different to in the mud room temperature wise etc

 

[Friday Fan]

Does anyone know if Betsy's body was found clothed or nude? this article mentions she was "uncovered", which doesn't necessarily imply she was nude. The first article I came across described the clothes Gene was wearing, but didn't specifically mention Betsy's clothing.

According to the warrant. (Paywalled) She was wearing a light colored sweatshirt and dark colored sweatpants.

Oddly, the bathroom was to the left of the front door. (It's easy to assume that this is a guest bathroom) However, it was large enough to have a closet

Read the Search Warrant Affidavit in the Gene Hackman Death Inquiry

An affidavit from a Santa Fe County detective described how deputies found the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, on Wednesday.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Lyanna]

sorry, dogs don't eat human pills

Mine will - They sniff out anything if its been dropped or left on a surface they can reach.

ime

 

[CityKid]

Does anyone know if Betsy's body was found clothed or nude? this article mentions she was "uncovered", which doesn't necessarily imply she was nude. The first article I came across described the clothes Gene was wearing, but didn't specifically mention Betsy's clothing.

I can't find it now, but a Daily Mail story said she was wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants. It was the same story that mentioned Gene was wearing a long-sleeve blue shirt and sweats.

 

[Fabled Automatic]

After Deputy Thomas entered the residence, he immediately observed a bathroom to the left of the front door. The door to the bathroom was opened. Deputy Thomas advised he observed adeceased female laying on the ground near the countertop, inside the bathroom. The female was observed laying on her right side. He advised she was found wearing dark gray sweatpants and a light in color sweatshirt. The female was observed to have black in color hair.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/santafenewmexican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/e9/7e932158-f529-11ef-a999-7baaa12b3817/67c0957ef0a13.pdf.pdf

Thank you!

 

[IceIce9]

Fair enough and I get it in re: ‘stepmother’. The overall tone just struck me because 35 years is a long time to be in someone’s life, and to not have any words for her other than ‘his wife’ just seemed rather chilly.

In most instances I have known if the father remarries after the children are grown and out of the home they don’t refer to her as “stepmother” but “my father’s wife.”

Same for their mother if she remarries after they leave home. They say, “my mother’s husband” instead of “my stepdad.”

Just my own experience.

 

[Friday Fan]

Was just kinda struck by the reference to ‘his wife’. I mean, BA and GH have been married for 35 years at this point. Why not ‘stepmother’? Or any other words about missing her? Anyway, just nattering nabobbery; I loved GH in the Royal Tenenbaums and French Connection.

They probably were adults themselves when Gene and Betsy married. Likely the same age or younger than Betsy. Gene was only four months younger than my dad. I'm 68 and Betsy is 63. 35 years ago, I was raising kids myself.

 

[Quill]

Coming at this from the prospective of a dog owner, there can be a lot learned from whatever signs of the dogs' behaviors the investigators can see. Good points raised above about what they were eating such as dry food left accessible or even human food such as a pantry door left open. Also, what kind of water source was available? (I know without a doubt that mine would eventually drink from the toilet. He is a rescue that had been living in an abandoned building. We had to work at getting him to stop that when we brought him home.)

What about the potty habits of the two living dogs during the time period the two are believed to be deceased and especially around the deceased dog? Any evidence of feces or urine in the kennel will tell a bit more about that situation. Were there any claw marks on the door that was ajar or any other doors?

One horrible thought I had that I hate to even mention was wondering if maybe one of the dogs may have been over excited and accidentally knocked GH to the floor as he was trying to go outside. I suppose if that happened, an autopsy will shed some light on any fatal injuries that could have occurred in that way.

It's all very sad.

 

[Molly's Mom]

I read through the warrant and what stood out to me was that the door was found opened and no obvious signs of a gas leak.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Deputy Thomas indicated he asked and when the last had contact with the homeowners and they both advised it was approximately two (2) weeks prior. Both individuals advised they rarely saw the owners (of the residence) when conducting routine maintenance on the home. Both indicated they maintained contact with the homeowners through text message and phone calls and primarily communicated with the female homeowner identified the deceased female as Betsy Arakawa (7/61)

These two males identified Betsy's husband and Gene Hackman (or Eugene Allen Hackman) /30), however did not positively identify him as the deceased male. At this time the male's true identity is unknown, until further investigative research can be made/conducted.

Read the Search Warrant Affidavit in the Gene Hackman Death Inquiry

An affidavit from a Santa Fe County detective described how deputies found the bodies of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, on Wednesday.

www.nytimes.com

 

[arielilane]

@johncusack


RIP Gene Hackman - an all time great. One of the most influential screen actors ever. There was nothing he couldn’t do. His work was searingly truthful and often brutally honest - he never let you off the hook . Not afraid of ambiguity - a lost quality these days . Lucky and grateful to share screen with him . RIP Gene

1:05 PM · Feb 27, 2025


@TheValPerrine


The great Gene Hackman has passed away.He was a genius & 1 of the greatest to grace the silver screen. I had the honor of working with Him on Superman. His performances are legendary. His talent will be missed. Goodbye my sweet LexTill we meet again. Valerie

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895057406931194290

 

[Fabled Automatic]

Coming at this from the prospective of a dog owner, there can be a lot learned from whatever signs of the dogs' behaviors the investigators can see. Good points raised above about what they were eating such as dry food left accessible or even human food such as a pantry door left open. Also, what kind of water source was available? (I know without a doubt that mine would eventually drink from the toilet. He is a rescue that had been living in an abandoned building. We had to work at getting him to stop that when we brought him home.)

What about the potty habits of the two living dogs during the time period the two are believed to be deceased and especially around the deceased dog? Any evidence of feces or urine in the kennel will tell a bit more about that situation. Were there any claw marks on the door that was ajar or any other doors?

One horrible thought I had that I hate to even mention was wondering if maybe one of the dogs may have been over excited and accidentally knocked GH to the floor as he was trying to go outside. I suppose if that happened, an autopsy will shed some light on any fatal injuries that could have occurred in that way.

It's all very sad.

The front door was reportedly open when LE arrived. I would guess the two living dogs could come and go from the residence.