Remebering the late Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and the life they built

Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, passed away earlier last year after authorities found them both deceased in their home. The news sent shockwaves across the industry. The two had been together since the early 1980s and were known for their strong support for each other. Here is a look back at the beloved couple’s life.

After separating from his first wife, Faye Maltese, Hackman met Arakawa when he started going to a gym where the 65-year-old worked. The two started dating shortly after and were together from the 1980s until their demise in February 2025. Due to the age difference, they faced many rumors, which the actor often put to rest. In an old interview with the Florida South Sun-Sentinel, the star revealed that he and his first wife drifted apart over time, and that he did not leave her for a younger woman.

Ever since they started dating, the two led a quiet and mainly private life. He and the classical pianist, who was 28 at the time, had been living away from the limelight for a long time. In the 1990s, the couple officially bought a new house in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This is where they resided until their passing last year. In an interview with Architectural Digest, the actor revealed that they had extensively worked on the house. He had shared that “We bought a few things in Santa Fe. Other things came from auctions in New York, an antiques shop in Germany that Betsy and I found, and from Los Angeles. It’s a nice combination of soft southwestern pieces and hard-edged antiques.” They got married in 1991.

The two were well known for their love for dogs and had two German shepherds at home. Later on, while working with Keanu Reeves on ‘The Replacements’, two stray dogs wandered onto the set. The couple adopted them right away, naming one Gene and the other Keanu. Hackman retired in the late 2000s and led his life peacefully, pursuing other ventures such as writing.

When Gene Hackman retired from films altogether, he turned to various new ventures. One of these ventures included writing a book. While talking about his book titled ‘Pursuit’, the actor shared that his wife was one of the people who helped him refine his writing style. He appeared on the ‘Writer’s Bone’ podcast in 2014 and shared that “If, in fact, I have a style, it came from repeated edits, friends’ suggestions, and my wife’s unwavering, specific read-throughs.”

In multiple interviews after his retirement, Hackman was very open about how he and Betsy often spent their time together. He shared, while talking to Empire in 2020, that the two enjoy the simple pleasures of life and often have fun with Comedy Central every Friday night. He further shared that his wife rented DVDs for both of them to watch, and the two of them said, “We like simple stories that some of the low-budget films manage to produce.”

In March 2024, the couple was spotted by paparazzi. Page Six at the time reported that the two were seen walking side by side in casual clothing. Hackman, who was 93 at the time, was seen taking support from his wife, as well as using a cane to help him walk. The actor wore simple pants and a plaid shirt with a grey vest and a matching cap, while Betsy Arakawa, who was 63 at the time, wore a printed full sleeves shirt and blue jeans, along with a blue jacket in her hands and a pair of sunglasses on her head.

A year ago, the couple, along with one of their German shepherds, were found unresponsive in their home in Santa Fe. It was reported that the two passed away due to natural causes. Arakawa was last spotted in public on February 11. She passed away on the same day due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Hackman passed away a week later due to a heart condition. It was shared that the veteran actor was in the late stages of Alzheimer's, and it was possible that he was not aware that his wife had already passed away. One of their dogs was also found deceased on the property, while two other dogs were found alive on the property.