Tributes have flooded in for Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa after they recently passed away.
Hackman, 95 and Arakawa, 63, were found dead on February 26, 2025, inside their $3.3 million estate - an 8,000-square-foot home situated on six acres in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The couple’s German Shepherd was also found dead at the scene. Two of the couple's other dogs were found alive and "healthy", police said, per the New York Post.
Hackman, whose career spanned four decades, was a defining figure of the New Hollywood era.
He first gained recognition with an Oscar-nominated performance in Bonnie and Clyde (1968) before winning Best Actor in 1972 for The French Connection.
His portrayal of Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle remains one of cinema’s most iconic performances. He later won a second Academy Award, earning Best Supporting Actor for Unforgiven (1993), directed by and co-starring Clint Eastwood.
Per the Guardian, Eastwood paid tribute, saying: “There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note.” He added: “He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”
Dustin Hoffman, who attended acting school with Hackman at the Pasadena Playhouse, recalled: “He was expelled from our school after three months for ‘not having talent.’ It was the first time they ever did that. He was that good. Powerful, subtle, brilliant. A giant among actors. I miss him already.”
Morgan Freeman, who co-starred with Hackman in Unforgiven and Under Suspicion, called working with him “one of the personal highlights of my career.”
Mel Brooks recalled Hackman’s unexpected desire to do comedy, sharing on X: “I was privileged to know Gene Hackman because he played tennis with another Gene — Gene Wilder. And that Gene told him about a little role called The Blind Hermit in our movie Young Frankenstein... Needless to say, I was over the moon and he was perfect.”
Tom Hanks summed up Hackman’s singular presence in cinema, stating: “There has never been a ‘Gene Hackman Type.’ There has only been Gene Hackman.”
Other tributes included Antonio Banderas, who called it a “sad day for the cinema’s family,” and Viola Davis, who wrote: “Loved you in everything!... You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.”
British director Edgar Wright described Hackman as “the greatest,” while George Takei called him “one of the true giants of the screen.”
Josh Brolin posted a photo of Hackman and Arakawa, writing: “I am crushed by the sudden deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa (and their dog). Crushed. He was always one of my favorites. Not many who beat to their own drums like he did. Rest in Peace.”
BAFTA also released a statement honoring the two-time BAFTA winner, acknowledging his “illustrious” career.