Gene Hackman's Wife Betsy Arakawa's Body Had Signs of 'Mummification' When It Was Discovered

Mar. 15, 2025

The body ofBetsy Arakawa, wife to actorGene Hackman, was reportedly in decomposition when she, her husband and their dog were found dead in their home.

Thedeaths of Hackman and Arakawa are “suspiciousenough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation,” the search-warrant affidavit said.

Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Police were first called to the residence on Old Sunset Trail in Santa Fe around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, “where Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa and a dog were found deceased,” Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, Denise Womack-Avila, said in a statement.

She added that “foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time, however, the exact cause of death has not been determined.”

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

The sheriff’s office toldTMZthatThe French Connectionstar and his wife’s bodies hadbeen in their home for at least a daybefore deputies found them deceased.

Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman.AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

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Hackman and Arakawa were married in 1991 and began dating in the mid-’80s. Hackman was a two-time Oscar winner best known for his roles inThe French Connection,SupermanandThe Royal Tenenbaums, while Arakawa was a classical pianist.

source: people.com