Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife found dead

[FWN Adm]

Legendary Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home Wednesday, February 26, prompting investigating officials to call their deaths "suspicious." The bodies of Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found in separate rooms, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. One of their dogs was also found dead.

Hackman was an Oscar-winning actor who was best known for roles in "The French Connection," "The Conversation" and "Unforgiven." Arakawa was a classical pianist.

Here is what we know about their deaths: it remains unclear how Hackman and Arakawa died, and officials are looking into the circumstances. The local sheriff's office said Friday afternoon that the cause of death has not been determined. Officials have said no signs of foul play are apparent, and an autopsy found no external trauma to either Hackman or Arakawa. Hackman likely died on Feb. 17 — the last day his pacemaker recorded an "event," Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. "I think that is a very good assumption, that that was his last day of life," Mendoza said.

Toxicology tests were requested for both, and results are still pending, according to the sheriff's office. Both Hackman and Arakawa tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning, Mendoza said. The Santa Fe City Fire Department did not find signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning, according to an affidavit for a search warrant, and New Mexico Gas Co. found no evidence indicating there was a problem with the pipes in and around the house.

"Circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation," according to the affidavit.

Hackman and Arakawa were found Wednesday afternoon after someone called 911 to report the bodies. Mendoza said Thursday the couple had been dead "quite a while." A maintenance worker was at the residence Wednesday to do work and grew concerned after the couple did not answer the door. The worker contacted a security officer in the subdivision, who went to the house and discovered the couple inside, Mendoza said.

FILMS

1961   Mad Dog Coll - Policeman
1964   Lilith - Norman
1966   Hawaii - John Whipple
1967   Banning - Tommy Del Gaddo
           Community Shelter Planning - Donald Ross
           A Covenant with Death - Alfred Harmsworth
           First to Fight - Sergeant Tweed
           Bonnie and Clyde - Buck Barrow
1968   The Split - Lt. Walter Brill
1969   Riot - 'Red' Fraker
           The Gypsy Moths - Joe Browdy
           Downhill Racer - Eugene Claire
           Marooned - 'Buzz' Lloyd
1970   I Never Sang for My Father - Gene Garrison
1971   Doctors' Wives - Dave Randolph
           The Hunting Party - Brandt Ruger
           The French Connection - Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle
1972   Prime Cut - Mary Ann
           The Poseidon Adventure - Rev. Frank Scott
           Cisco Pike - Sergeant Leo Holland
1973   Scarecrow - Max Millan
1974   The Conversation - Harry Caul
           Young Frankenstein - Harold, The Blind Man
           Zandy's Bride - Zandy Allan
1975   French Connection II - Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle
           Lucky Lady - Kibby Womack
           Night Moves - Harry Moseby
           Bite the Bullet - Sam Clayton
1977   The Domino Principle - Roy Tucker
           A Bridge Too Far - Stanisław Sosabowski
           March or Die - Major William Sherman Foster
1978   Superman - Lex Luthor
1980   Superman II   
1981   All Night Long - George Dupler
           Reds - Pete Van Wherry
1983   Under Fire - Alex Grazier
           Two of a Kind - God
           Uncommon Valor - Col. Jason Rhodes, USMC (Ret.)
           Eureka - Jack McCann
1984   Misunderstood - Ned Rawley
1985   Twice in a Lifetime - Harry MacKenzie
           Target - Walter Lloyd / Duncan 'Duke' Potter
1986   Power - Wilfred Buckley
           Hoosiers - Coach Norman Dale
1987   No Way Out - David Brice
           Superman IV: The Quest for Peace - Lex Luthor / Nuclear Man (voice)
1988   Bat*21 - Lt. Col Iceal Hambleton, USAF
           Split Decisions - Danny McGuinn
           Another Woman - Larry Lewis
           Full Moon in Blue Water - Floyd
           Mississippi Burning - Rupert Anderson
1989   The Package - Sergeant Johnny Gallagher
1990   Loose Cannons - Det. MacArthur 'Mac' Stern
           Postcards from the Edge - Lowell Kolchek
           Narrow Margin - Robert Caulfield
1991   Class Action - Jedediah Tucker Ward
          Company Business - Sam Boyd
1992   Unforgiven - Sheriff Bill 'Little Bill' Daggett
1993   The Firm - Avery Tolar
           Geronimo: An American Legend - Brigadier General George Crook
1994   Wyatt Earp - Nicholas Porter Earp
1995   The Quick and the Dead - John Herod
           Crimson Tide - Captain Frank Ramsey
           Get Shorty - Harry Zimm
1996   The Birdcage - Senator Kevin Keeley
           Extreme Measures - Dr. Lawrence Myrick
           The Chamber - Sam Cayhall
1997   Absolute Power - President Alan Richmond
1998   Twilight - Jack Ames
           Antz - General Mandible
           Enemy of the State - Edward "Brill" Lyle
2000   Under Suspicion - Henry Hearst
           The Replacements - Coach Jimmy McGinty
2001   The Mexican - Arnold Margolese
           Heartbreakers - William B. Tensy
           Heist - Joe Moore
           Behind Enemy Lines - Admiral Leslie Reigart
           The Royal Tenenbaums - Royal Tenenbaum
2003   Runaway Jury - Rankin Fitch
2004   Welcome to Mooseport