After stepping away from Hollywood in the early 2000s, Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa enjoyed a tranquil life in New Mexico.

However, the married couple were thrust back into the spotlight this week when they, along with their pet dog, were found dead at their residence in Santa Fe. Cops have said no foul play is suspected. The pair were last seen publicly around 11 months before their death.

Gene and Betsy, who had been happily married since 1991, were captured on camera during an early dinner at Pappadeaux, a popular seafood restaurant, on March 28, 2024.

In the photos, Gene sported a laid-back look with a shirt, hooded gilet, olive green trousers, sneakers and a cap, while leaning on a walking cane.

Gene Hackman looked frail as he stepped out for a spot of dinner in Santa Fe with his wife ( 
Image:
Backgrid)

Betsy looked chic in jeans, a vibrant shirt, brown boots, and was seen carrying a blue coat. They appeared content as they exited the restaurant, with Gene occasionally relying on his wife for support.

This rare public appearance occurred a few months after Gene’s 94th birthday. Prior to this, Gene was spotted alone near his Santa Fe home, busily tending to his yard work in March of the previous year.

He was photographed wielding a shovel and later enjoying a meal in his car after a visit to Wendy’s drive-thru. His busy day also included a stop at a gas station to refuel his vehicle and grab a quick cup of coffee.

The actor was seen in an active ensemble, donning a fleece sweater over a long gray shirt, paired with blue jeans, black trainers and a khaki baseball cap. He had his sunglasses perched on top of his hat, ready to shield him from the sun.

Wisps of Gene’s grey hair could be seen peeking out from the back of his cap and tucked behind his ears. Tragically, Gene and Betsy were found dead in their home during a welfare check conducted by deputies around 1.45pm on Wednesday, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Avila.

Foul play is not suspected, but the circumstances surrounding their deaths have not been disclosed as investigations continue. The beloved actor, known for his gruff demeanor, was one of the finest of his generation. From the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s, he played villains, heroes, and antiheroes in numerous dramas, comedies, and action films.

A five-time Oscar nominee, he won for The French Connection and Unforgiven, 21 years apart. His death occurred just four days before this year’s ceremony.

The couple resided in a gated community outside New Mexico’s capital city. Gene moved to the area in the 1980s and was often spotted around town.

He served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s, as reported by the local paper, The New Mexican. Despite his occasional presence at award ceremonies, he was seldom spotted in the Hollywood social scene and bid farewell to his acting career about two decades ago. His retirement was one of the few in Hollywood that truly stuck.

In his later years, he penned novels from his hilltop ranch, overlooking the majestic Rocky Mountains. The news of the couple’s death has left fans devastated, prompting an outpouring of tributes on social media.