The bodies of the pair, aged 95 and 65 respectively, showed “no external trauma,” according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, though the circumstances surrounding their death are still being investigated.
CNN has now obtained the audio from the individual – identified as a caretaker –who made the 911 call from Hackman’s estate.
Hollywood has lost one of its true greats. Actor Gene Hackman and his wife, pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home Wednesday after a person, who identified himself as the caretaker, called 911. The call was made just before 2pm, according to law enforcement.
In a statement to People Magazine, Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter, Annie, said they are “devastated by the loss.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy. He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss,” Elizabeth, Leslie, and Annie Hackman shared with People Magazine.
Law enforcement was called to Hackman’s home on Wednesday. As per CNN, according to the affidavit, scattered pills were found near Arakawa’s body. She was found lying on the ground inside the bathroom, with an open bottle of prescription pills on the countertop beside her. A space heater was found near her head, and one of the couple’s dogs was found dead in the bathroom closet.
Meanwhile, Hackman’s body was discovered in another room, near the kitchen. He was on the ground, and investigators “suspected the male individual had suddenly fallen.” The door was open, but there were no signs of forced entry or theft.
Two other dogs were found alive in their house, and the front door was open. The sheriff’s office said in their initial public statement on the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa that “foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time.”
Gene Hackman dead at 95
A Thursday news release from the sheriff’s office stated that it “remains an open investigation.” TMZ reported that a Santa Fe detective who sought a search warrant believed “the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened.”
The sheriff’s office announced that the official autopsy and toxicology reports are still pending. Carbon monoxide and toxology tests have been required for Hackman and Arakawa.
“There was no obvious sign or indication of foul play,” Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Thursday, per CNN. He added that there had been no sign of a struggle or that any items were missing from the couple’s home. Mendoza also stated that Hackman and Arakawa had been deceased for quite a while.
“The autopsy is going to be key, and the toxicology,” Mendoza added.
The 911 call from the Santa Fe home was made by a person who identified themselves as the caretaker. CNN obtained the 911 call, and as per the affidavit, maintenance workers had found the couple dead.
911 audio released in Gene Hackman’s death
The person who called sounded emotional while talking to the 911 dispatcher. They added that they couldn’t enter the home but saw two unconscious people through the window.
“No, dude, they’re not moving. Just send somebody out here really quick,” the caretaker told the dispatcher.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said the toxicology would be the key in the investigation. According to one of Gene Hackman’s three children, Leslie, they won’t rule out that her father and stepmother could possibly have been killed by inhaling toxic fumes due to a carbon monoxide leak. Meanwhile, the affidavit stated that there were no signs of a carbon monoxide leak or possible trouble with the pipes.
Speaking with the Daily Mail, Leslie stated that the death remains a mystery and that there was “no indication that there was any problem” with her father before his passing. The family is still processing the tragic event.
“Despite his age, he was in very good physical condition,” Leslie Hackman said, adding that her father hadn’t undergone any major surgeries in the last few months. “He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health.”
“Everything was normal and everything was good”
While Leslie and her family are grieving the death of Gene, they admitted that his death wasn’t “terribly shocking” because of his age. She continued by saying she hadn’t seen him in a “few months” as she lived in California. Even though they were close, they hadn’t spoken for quite a while.
“We were close. I hadn’t talked to them for a couple months, but everything was normal and everything was good,” Leslie told the DailyMail.
Gene Hackman was not always destined to become an actor. Born in San Bernardino, California, on January 30, 1930, his mother, Lyda, worked as a waiter while his father, Eugene, operated a printing press. They moved from town to town in search of employment, ultimately ending up living in Danville, Illinois.
By age 16, Gene had enough of school. He lied about his age so he could join the Marines, though due to a serious motorbike accident, he had to leave the forces and find work elsewhere.
Hackman had worked with the radio while in the Marines, and when he married Faye Maltese in 1956, with her help, he decided to try acting. After moving to the West Coast, he enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, and Gene turned out to be a natural.
His classmates, including Dustin Hoffman, were much younger than him, but that didn’t matter. Gene and Dustin became lifelong friends, but they were initially branded the “least likely to succeed” in the entertainment business. As of today, we know that wasn’t quite the case.
Gene Hackman – career & marriage to Betsy Arakawa
Hackman would go on to become one of the greatest actors of all time. He and his first wife moved back to New York City, where he began his career on Broadway. He debuted in the 1961 movie Mad Dog Coll, but it took a decade before he got his big breakthrough starring role. In 1968, he was nominated for his first Academy Award for Bonnie & Clyde and a second one in 1971 for I Never Sang for My Father.
In 1972, Hackman earned an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in The French Connection. He became a massive Hollywood star in his 40s, and stardom led to even more significant roles and awards. He received his second Academy Award in 1993, starring in Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.
Through his work in other films, such as Hoosiers and The Royal Tenenbaums, Hackman cemented his place as a movie legend in the hearts of millions worldwide. His last credit was the 2004 film Welcome to Mooseport, acting alongside Ray Romano.
Hackman had three children with Faye Maltese: Christopher Allen, Elizabeth Jean, and Leslie Anne. They divorced in 1986, and in 1991, he married classical pianist Betsy Arakawa. They remained married until their death. Speaking with the Daily Mail, Hackman’s daughter Leslie stated they had a “wonderful marriage.”
“They had a wonderful marriage. And I give credit to his wife, Betsy, for keeping him alive,” she said. “[Betsy] took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health. So I am appreciative to her for that, and I’m very saddened by her passing.”
Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman shares statements amid Gene Hackman’s death
“We need to wait and find out whatever information from the police,” she continued. “We weren’t expecting to have to go out there and go through the house and all that.” So we have some work cut out for us. But yeah, we’ll be going out to New Mexico.”
Following Hackman’s death, many Hollywood stars have honored his legacy. Among these are Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman. In a statement, Eastwood said, “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”
Morgan Freeman took to Instagram to honor Gene, saying, “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.”
Rest in Peace, Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa. Please share this article to honor their memory.
