Hollywood is mourning the loss of the legendary actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa at their home in Santa Fe on Wednesday. The retired actor has been living a quiet life away from the limelight with his wife of 34 years.
Despite the attention over their 32-year age gap, the couple shared a deep love and mutual respect. And the two-time Oscar winner often emphasized his commitment to Arakawa, making it clear that their relationship was built on genuine affection.
Who was Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa?
Being the Hollywood legend that he is, Gene Hackman’s personal and professional affairs always remained in the public eye. And so was his relationship and marriage to the classically trained pianist Betsy Arakawa.
The couple reportedly met at a gym in California, where Arakawa, who was born in Hawaii, was working at the time while pursuing a career in classical music. And they started dating in the mid-1980s.
Actor Gene Hackman has died at age 95, along with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 65, and their dog, according to police reports pic.twitter.com/5tYXtjHg9h
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) February 27, 2025
As per the Daily Mail, the Superman actor was keen on starting a relationship with Arakawa after finalizing his divorce from Faye Maltese, to whom he was married for 30 years. The former couple shared three children: a son, Christopher Allen, and two daughters, Leslie Anne and Elizabeth Jean.
Following his split from his first wife, Hackman and Arakawa moved to their New Mexico home in 1990 and tied the knot the following year, in 1991.
The couple led a peaceful and quiet life in their New Mexico residence, which was also featured in Architectural Digest in 1990. After Hackman retired from acting, he opened up about leading a life away from Hollywood.
“Where we live, in Santa Fe, you can lead your own life and not be bothered by the latest gossip,” he told the Irish Independent. However, his wife, Betsy Arakawa, kept away from the limelight and had not publicly talked about their relationship.
Gene Hackman on his marriage to Betsy Arakawa
While Betsy Arakawa was known to be a private person and refrained from speaking publicly, Gene Hackman has opened up about his relationship with his wife, who was 32 years younger than him.
In addition to his celebrity status, the age gap also garnered significant attention in their marriage, leading to speculations. However, the late actor denied any innuendoes.
Talking about his character in the 1985 film Twice in a Lifetime, who decides to divorce his wife after falling for a younger woman, he said, “By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman.”
He further noted, “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,” as per People.
Gene Hackman credited his wife for helping him in his writing
Gene Hackman underwent angioplasty due to congestive heart failure he suffered the same year he moved in with Betsy Arakawa, something he later shared significantly contributed to his decision to retire from acting.
After stepping away from the screen, he shifted his focus to writing. The late actor went on to release several books, including Payback at Morning Peak, a Western novel inspired by his life in Santa Fe.
He credited his wife for helping him refine his writing. “If in fact I have a style, it came from repeated edits, friends’ suggestions, and my wife’s unwavering, specific read-throughs,” he told the Writer’s Bone podcast in a 2014 interview.
The couple enjoyed a peaceful life in their New Mexico residence, staying out of the public eye. In 2024, they were spotted together for the first time in two decades, marking a rare public appearance.
The couple was found deceased at their Santa Fe house alongside their beloved dog, who was also found dead. The cause of death has not been disclosed yet.
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