TWO-TIME Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead Wednesday afternoon at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Hackman was 95, while Arakawa was 63.
In a report by Variety, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza’s office confirmed their deaths after midnight Thursday.
Authorities have found no immediate indication of foul play, though the Sheriff’s office has not yet provided a cause of death.
Sheriff’s deputies discovered the couple—who had been married since 1991—alongside their dog during a visit to their home.
“All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant,” Mendoza told the Santa Fe New Mexican before the couple was officially identified. He assured the public that there was no immediate danger to the community.
Hackman, known for his powerful performances and commanding screen presence, won Academy Awards for The French Connection (1971) and Unforgiven (1992). His celebrated filmography includes The Conversation (1974), Superman (1978), Hoosiers (1986), Mississippi Burning (1988), The Firm (1993), and The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).