Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Portrait rarely made public appearances (Image: Getty Images)
is reeling after the devastating news that legendary actor at home alongside his wife Betsy Arakawa.
The heartbreaking discovery was made in New Mexico on Wednesday and the body of their dog was also found. Police have not revealed the cause of death but they believe there are no signs of foul play. And as tributes pour in, below we look inside the marriage of Hackman, who was 92, and Betsy, who was 63.
How they met
Hackman, who has two Oscars to his name, was previously married to Faye Maltese, who he tied the knot with in 1956.
But despite rumours, he has stated in the past that he did not abandon his first wife for Betsy, who he reportedly started dating in 1984, a time when his divorce was not finished.
Hackman insisted that he did not leave his first wife for Betsy (Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
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Speaking to the , he said: “By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. 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.”
Betsy, born in Hawaii, kept a private profile but according to , she was working in a gym part-time in Los Angeles when she met Hackman. At the time she was looking at a career in classical music.
She stayed off social media and was not one to speak to the press. Hackman once told the : “Where we live, in Sante Fe, you can lead your own life and not be bothered by the latest gossip.”
They have been married since 1991 (Image: NY Daily News via Getty Images)
Relationship
The pair married in 1991 and, giving a rare glimpse into the relationship, Hackman told in 2020 about their Friday date night ritual.
Speaking of DVDs that his wife rented, he said: “We like simple stories, that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce.”
He added: “Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon, with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.”
Their home in Santa Fe was once featured in Architectural Digest in 1990 and Betsy helped to design the house which was previously an abandoned block-building.
The couple were very private but Hackman offered rare glimpsed inside the marriage (Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
The pair never had children together but Betsy, a skilled pianist, was a stepmother to the actor’s three kids from his first marriage – Christopher, Leslie Anne and Elizabeth Jean.
And speaking about fatherhood, Gene once said: “It’s tough being the son or daughter of a celebrity. I couldn’t always be home with them when they were growing up and then, living in California, they’ve had my success always hanging over their heads.”
A source also told Closer Weekly: “He wishes he’d been around more for his children, but now he’s close with them and their kids.”
Gene left in 2004 and opted for a quiet life with his wife instead. And a source told Closer: “His health is good, he still bicycles, does yard work and he’s a great handyman. After all the drama of Gene’s career, he loves the peaceful life he shares with the lovely Betsy.”
They made their first public appearance together last April – over 20 years since they were snapped together at the 2003 Globe Awards. The insider revealed: “They have retreated to a happy life together.”