The sheriff’s office in Santa Fe, New Mexico has said the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa “remains an open investigation,” according to Deadline. While the deaths of the couple and their dog are “suspicious enough in nature,” the Santa Fe police say “there were no apparent signs of foul play.”
The bodies of the couple were discovered yesterday in the early afternoon, and transported to the Office of the Medical Investigator early this morning. Carbon monoxide and toxicology reports were requested for both individuals, after Wednesday’s search warrant reported that there was a “pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female.”
There is still no cause of death determined yet, but it seems that there was “no external trauma.” On Wednesday night, a carbon monoxide test in the couple’s residence was performed, and the scene was deemed safe.
One of the most legendary actors of all time, Gene Hackman won two Academy Awards for his roles as Popeye Doyle in William Friedkin’s thriller The French Connection and for his role as Sheriff Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s revisionist-Western Unforgiven.
He also starred in beloved movies like The Conversation and The Birdcage, and portrayed Lex Luthor in three of the original Superman movies. He married classical pianist Betsy Arakawa in 1991, and retired from acting in 2004. He is survived by his three children.
