“We just drifted apart”: Gene Hackman Denied Cheating On His First Wife For “younger woman” Betsy Arakawa

Veteran actor Gene Hackman is widely known for his portrayal of Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in 1971’s The French Connection, for which he earned the Academy Award for Best Actor. The actor further garnered recognition after he appeared as Lex Luthor in 1978’s Superman and its sequels. Hackman has been a part of movies including Scarecrow, Power, Enemy of the State, Behind Enemy Lines, and more. After starring in Welcome to Mooseport in 2004, the actor announced his retirement from movies.

Hackman’s personal life was also one of the discussion topics back in the day. He was previously married to Faye Maltese, and the pair shared three children. They divorced after being married for three decades, and Hackman went on to marry Betsy Arakawa. Unfortunately, Hackman and Arakawa were found dead along with their dog in their house in New Mexico. The authorities, as of now, have upgraded the cause of death to suspicious, but it has given fans a chance to look back at the couple’s relationship.

Gene Hackman denied cheating on his first wife, Faye Maltese, before marrying Betsy Arakawa

Actor Gene Hackman met his classic pianist wife, Betsy Arakawa, in 1989 when she was working part-time at a fitness center in California. The pair developed feelings for each other, and at the time, eyebrows were raised because the timeline of their relationship was not clear. Hackman was married to Faye Maltese from 1956 to 1986, and they share three children: Christopher Allen, Leslie Ann, and Elizabeth Jean. 

Hackman, during an interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, discussed the similarities between him and his character Harry Mackenzie from Twice in a Lifetime. He added,

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.

Hackman and Arakawa moved into their Southwestern-style mansion, Santa Fe in New Mexico, which was featured in Architectural Digest in 1990. The same year, the actor underwent an angioplasty due to heart failure, which resulted in him retiring from movies. He announced in a press conference held in 2008 that he would no longer act.

The actor turned his focus toward writing and published books, including Wake of the Perdido Star, Payback at Morning Peak, and more. He shared that his wife, Arakawa, helped him to sharpen his writing. In an interview with Empire, he said,

It’s very relaxing for me. I don’t picture myself as a great writer, but I really enjoy the process.

The duo were extremely private people but were involved in the process of redoing their house. Their outing last year was the first time Hackman and Arakawa were spotted in 21 years. (via Page Six)

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa found dead under ‘suspicious’ circumstances

In a very sad ending to Hackman and Arakawa’s love story, the couple was found dead at their New Mexico home. One out of the three dogs was also found dead. People reported that a maintenance worker discovered the body when he arrived to clean the room.

A spokesperson for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office shared with People that the authorities were dispatched to a home on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park, which is where Hackman and Arakawa, along with their dog, were found. There were no signs of foul play as of now, and authorities are investigating the cause of their deaths.

A new report from People Magazine reported that according to an affidavit from a Santa Fe, N.M., detective who was seeking a search warrant for their home, it was shared that there were no signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. It read,

New Mexico Gas Company responded to the residence and conducted active testing on the gas line in and around the residence. As of now, there are no signs or evidence indicating there were any problems associated with the pipes in and around the residence.

The authorities, however, noted that there was a high chance that the bodies may have been in the home for at least a day before they were found. Neither of them showed any clear signs of trauma. The couple’s deaths were raised to suspicious, with an open pill bottle and pills scattered near the bodies and the fact that the door to the home was left open.

Betsy Arakawa’s body was reportedly in a state of decomposition, with bloating in her face and mummification in her hands and feet. Gene Hackman, who was 95 years old, was found fully clothed, and sunglasses were found near his body, pointing that he might have fallen down.

Francis Ford Coppola shared a tribute message for the late actor on his social media by writing that he mourns the loss of a great artist and celebrates his existence and legacy. Celebrities including Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Viola Davis, Frances Fisher, and more paid tribute to the late actor, remembering his art and determined to celebrate his legacy. (via The Guardian)

Sending condolences to the friends and family of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.