How Gene Hackman’s devoted wife Betsy Arakawa’s care for star ‘kept him alive’ in final years
Gene Hackman found a lasting bond with his second wife Betsy Arakawa.
The Hollywood actor, 95, and wife Betsy, 63, along with their dog, were mysteriously found dead in their New Mexico home on Wednesday afternoon. A police investigation is now underway to determine the cause of deaths, however Santa Fe County police has confirmed that they do not believe that foul play was a factor at this time.
The megastar, who won two Oscars, two BAFTAs, and four Golden Globe Awards in a career that spanned four decades, fell in love with the classical pianist after crossing paths at an LA gym in the ’80s, where Betsy had been working part-time. They went on to tie the knot in 1991, with Betsy becoming stepmother to Gene’s three children, Christopher Allen, Leslie Anne, and Elizabeth Jean, whom he shared with his first wife, Faye Maltese.
Paying tribute to her father on Thursday, Leslie paid homage to Betsy’s devotion to her father, admitting she doesn’t believe he would have lived as long as he had without her care. Describing their marriage as “wonderful”, she added: “I give credit to his wife, Betsy, for keeping him alive.
“She (Betsy) took very, very good care of him and was always looking out for his health. I am appreciative to her for that, and I’m very saddened by her passing.”
Leslie also revealed her father had been in “good health” in the run-up to his sudden death, explaining that he kept active with yoga and pilates several times a week. Meanwhile, Gene’s close friend, Doug Lanham, told TMZ that the actor had been on a strict, healthy diet thanks to Betsy’s influence.
It was also through his wife that some of his family members kept in contact. His nephew Tim Hackman said his communication with his uncle was mainly through Betsty, who he would speak with ‘every once in a while’, he told DailyMail.com. “I was just basically giving her updates on my kids and how they were doing and how I was doing because our major connection was the military background, but that was it really.
“She’d just always say, ‘Oh, [Gene’s] doing good.’ I mean, he was moving around a lot for 95.” He said she was the one who ultimately “took care of him”. “I truly believe he made it as long as he did because of her,” Tim added.
Given the couple’s 31-year age gap, the family had assumed that Gene would pass away first, leaving Betsy to organise funeral arrangements. Now Tim says it’s too early to say what those plans will involve as he suspects it will now be down to the actor’s children.
For the past 20 years, the couple had escaped the spotlight, ditching red-carpet events for cosy nights in together. Speaking about setting up home in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, Gene told the Irish Independent in 2000: “Where we live, in Sante Fe, you can lead your own life and not be bothered by the latest gossip.”
In 2020, Gene also offered a sweet insight into their low-key weekend rituals, telling Empire magazine: “We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce. Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.”
In springtime last year, the couple were photographed out and about for the first time since the 2003 Globe Awards. An insider told Closer at the time: “They have retreated to a happy life together.”
Shortly after their deaths were announced, his family issued a statement on Thursday expressing their ‘great sadness’ over their immense loss. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career,” the family continued.
“But to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Read live updates on Gene Hackman and his wife’s tragic double death on the Mirror’s live blog HERE
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