Gene Hackman was found dead February 26 at the age of 95 at his home in New Mexico.
Alongside him was his 63-year-old wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their dog.
The Superman legend retired from acting more than two decades ago and lived a reclusive life away from the spotlight with his partner.
But who was Gene’s leading lady in real life? Here’s what we know about Betsy Arakawa.
Gene’s first marriage
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Gene married Betsy in 1991
Before meeting Betsy, Gene was married to Faye Maltese and the pair had three children, Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie together.
They divorced in 1986 after several trial separations. During their three-decade marriage, Gene was often away on location making movies and this may have contributed to the demise of their marriage.
Who was Betsy?
At 63, Betsy was 32-years Gene’s junior. She was a classical pianist and former fitness trainer and met her husband-to-be at a gym in California.
People reported that Betsy was born in Hawaii in the early 1960s.
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Gene smiles at wife Betsy
Gene and Betsy tied the knot in 1991, but didn’t have any children together.
When quizzed as to whether he left his first wife for Betsy, Gene strongly denied the suggestion.
“By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman,” he said. “We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love.”Their beloved home
The couple resided in Santa Fe
Gene loved their life away from Hollywood and told the Irish Independent: “Where we live, in Santa Fe, you can lead your own life and not be bothered by the latest gossip.”
Betsy and Gene bought a formerly abandoned building to transform into their home and she played a huge part in the design.
The property featured in Architectural Digest in 1990 and Gene told the publication he loved the remodelling process.
“I think it’s like being an actor,” he said. “I interpret what’s already there.”
Their last public sighting
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Gene and Betsy were rarely photographed in public after leaving Hollywood
Gene and Betsy were an involved part of their local community, but living in Santa Fe meant they avoided photographers and red carpet events. They were reportedly photographed in public for the first time in two decades in May 2024 when they were seen heading out of a restaurant in New Mexico.
Gene Hackman: 5 surprising facts
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1. Joining the Marines
At 16, Gene left home to join the Marines, just three years after his father had abandoned his family.
2. ‘Least likely to succeed’
Gene studied acting at Pasadena Theatre’s acting school, where he was classmates and friends with Dustin Hoffman. Both were dubbed “least likely to succeed” because they didn’t fit the typical young leading man stereotype. Of course, they both proved everyone wrong.
3. His big break came later
Gene Hackman’s career proves that big breaks can come later in life. At 37, he landed his first big role in the classic Bonnie and Clyde, which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. However, it wasn’t until he was 41 that he landed his first leading role.
4. Retiring from acting
By the early 2000s, Gene had hundreds of film credits to his name but the stress of his career was taking a toll on his health. He told Empire that part of the reason for his retirement was the physical and emotional strain attendant on acting.
5. He didn’t watch his hit films
The French Connection, one of his most famous films, earned him an Oscar. However, Gene admitted in a 2021 interview with The New York Post that he only watched the film once during the initial screening. He didn’t enjoy watching himself on screen and didn’t grasp the lasting legacy of his films.
Betsy did not have social media and had never given an interview to the press.
Their deaths
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Gene and Betsy were found dead
The Santa Fe County Sheriff released a statement confirming their deaths which read: “We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail.
“This is an active investigation-however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor.”
Their dog was also found dead. It was previously reported that Gene and Betsy owned two German Shepherds.
