Gene Hackman: life, career, family, and tragic death with his wife
27 february 2025 в 19:37
Gene Hackman was an American actor who rose to fame after his role in the 1967 film «Bonnie and Clyde», - for which he received his first Oscar nomination. After over 40 years of work and filling his resume with 100 roles, as well as two Oscars, Gene unofficially retired from the business in 2004. «I didn’t hold a press conference to announce my retirement, but yes, I will no longer be an actor», - he told Reuters in 2008. «I've been told not to talk about it in recent years, in case a really great role comes up, but I really don’t want to do it anymore».
However, after his «Irish» retirement, he delved into another art form: writing novels. «I enjoy solitude, really. In a way, it’s similar to acting, but more private, and I feel like I have more control over what I’m trying to say and do», - he explained. «In acting and in movies, there’s always compromise, you work with so many people, and everyone has their own opinion… I don’t know if I like it more than acting, just differently. I find it relaxing and comforting».
Although he valued the «solitude» of his writing work, Gene was far from lonely. He enjoyed a more than 30-year union with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. However, their lives were cut short in February 2025, when the spouses and their dog were found dead in their home in New Mexico, according to the Associated Press.
Read on to learn all about their relationship, as well as Gene’s previous marriage to his first wife, Fay Maltese.
Betsy Arakawa was a retired classical pianist. She was born in Hawaii and passed away at the age of 63, according to AP.
Gene and Betsy rarely appeared in public, and, according to a close source to this lovely couple, they enjoyed their quiet life away from the spotlight in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. «His health is good, he still rides his bike, gardens, and he’s a great handyman», - the source told Closer Weekly in 2020. «After all the career drama of Gene’s, he loves the peaceful life he leads with his lovely Betsy».
The Golden Globe winner and musician met at a fitness center in Los Angeles, where Betsy worked part-time, Closer Weekly reports. Gene’s divorce from his first wife, Fay Maltese, was not yet finalized when they met. Their marriage lasted from 1956 to 1986. Reports say Gene and Betsy started dating in 1984 and got married in 1991.
Gene told Empire magazine in 2020 that he and Betsy enjoy watching DVDs together. «We like simple stories that some low-budget films manage to create», - he said. «Friday night is reserved for a Comedy Channel marathon, with special attention to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing».
Gene and Betsy did not have children together, but Gene had three children with Fay: Leslie Anne, Elizabeth Jean, and Christopher Allen. He previously admitted that he was not always a present parent because of his work. «I lost touch with my son in terms of advice from the beginning», - he told GQ magazine in 2011. «Perhaps it’s because I was away so much, filming on location, when he was at an age when he needed support and guidance. It was very difficult for me to leave for three months and then come home and start bossing him around».
Gene was married to his first wife from 1956 to 1986. Gene told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 1985 that he did not «leave» Fay for Betsy. «By the way, I didn’t leave my real wife for a young woman. We just drifted apart», - the actor said. «We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage requires a lot of work and love».
As mentioned, Gene and Fay had three children before their divorce. Fay passed away on April 26, 2017, at the age of 88.
The cause of Gene and Betsy’s death is still unknown. According to AP, authorities do not suspect foul play, and they are not disclosing the circumstances
However, after his «Irish» retirement, he delved into another art form: writing novels. «I enjoy solitude, really. In a way, it’s similar to acting, but more private, and I feel like I have more control over what I’m trying to say and do», - he explained. «In acting and in movies, there’s always compromise, you work with so many people, and everyone has their own opinion… I don’t know if I like it more than acting, just differently. I find it relaxing and comforting».
Although he valued the «solitude» of his writing work, Gene was far from lonely. He enjoyed a more than 30-year union with his wife, Betsy Arakawa. However, their lives were cut short in February 2025, when the spouses and their dog were found dead in their home in New Mexico, according to the Associated Press.
Read on to learn all about their relationship, as well as Gene’s previous marriage to his first wife, Fay Maltese.
Betsy Arakawa was a retired classical pianist. She was born in Hawaii and passed away at the age of 63, according to AP.
Gene and Betsy rarely appeared in public, and, according to a close source to this lovely couple, they enjoyed their quiet life away from the spotlight in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. «His health is good, he still rides his bike, gardens, and he’s a great handyman», - the source told Closer Weekly in 2020. «After all the career drama of Gene’s, he loves the peaceful life he leads with his lovely Betsy».
The Golden Globe winner and musician met at a fitness center in Los Angeles, where Betsy worked part-time, Closer Weekly reports. Gene’s divorce from his first wife, Fay Maltese, was not yet finalized when they met. Their marriage lasted from 1956 to 1986. Reports say Gene and Betsy started dating in 1984 and got married in 1991.
Gene told Empire magazine in 2020 that he and Betsy enjoy watching DVDs together. «We like simple stories that some low-budget films manage to create», - he said. «Friday night is reserved for a Comedy Channel marathon, with special attention to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing».
Gene and Betsy did not have children together, but Gene had three children with Fay: Leslie Anne, Elizabeth Jean, and Christopher Allen. He previously admitted that he was not always a present parent because of his work. «I lost touch with my son in terms of advice from the beginning», - he told GQ magazine in 2011. «Perhaps it’s because I was away so much, filming on location, when he was at an age when he needed support and guidance. It was very difficult for me to leave for three months and then come home and start bossing him around».
Gene was married to his first wife from 1956 to 1986. Gene told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 1985 that he did not «leave» Fay for Betsy. «By the way, I didn’t leave my real wife for a young woman. We just drifted apart», - the actor said. «We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage requires a lot of work and love».
As mentioned, Gene and Fay had three children before their divorce. Fay passed away on April 26, 2017, at the age of 88.
The cause of Gene and Betsy’s death is still unknown. According to AP, authorities do not suspect foul play, and they are not disclosing the circumstances
© Smirnova Olga
