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February 28, 2025 | 05:41 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The daughter and granddaughter of legendary actor Gene Hackman have spoken out after the star of The French Connection was found dead with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
In an official statement, the family expressed deep sorrow over Hackman's passing, who to them was not just a Hollywood icon but a beloved father and grandfather.
"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," said their daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman, and their granddaughter, Annie Hackman, in a statement to People.
"We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss," they expressed.
Physical Condition Before Passing
Gene Hackman took his last breath at the age of 95. Despite being of advanced age, he was said to be in excellent physical condition.
"He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health," said Leslie Hackman to Daily Mail.
However, Leslie admitted that despite her father being in good health, she was not too surprised by his passing. "He was 95 years old," she said.
In addition, Leslie mentioned that her father's memory was starting to fade.
“He was doing ok. His wife told me that his memory was fading and he recently had a birthday and apparently his wife had to remind (him) three times it was his birthday. But everyone was ok," he told Us Weekly.
Suspicious Passing
Up to now, the cause of death of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa is still under investigation by the Santa Fe police. A detective mentioned that their deaths raised suspicions. Leslie Hackman said a neighbor contacted the police after not hearing from Arakawa for several weeks.
"One of the dogs was found dead inside the house, and one or two others were roaming in the yard," she revealed. Initial speculation arose that the couple might have died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. However, no signs of gas leakage were found.
Hackman's body was found near the kitchen, while Arakawa was found in the bathroom with a number of prescription pills scattered around her. Their deceased dog was found not far from Arakawa's body. "This is very strange. They never had any issues in their home," Leslie said.
Gene Hackman was known as a top actor who starred in several iconic films, including The French Connection, Superman, and The Royal Tenenbaums. His wife, Betsy Arakawa, was a classical pianist. The couple married in 1991. From his previous marriage to Faye Maltese, Hackman had three children: Christopher Allen Hackman (63), Elizabeth Jean Hackman (61), and Leslie Ann Hackman (57).
PEOPLE | DAILY MAIL | US WEEKLY
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