Gene Hackman Had a Deep Connection to 'Magic' of Santa Fe, Where He Lived for 35 Years and Died

Photo:Ron Davis/Getty Ron Davis/Getty Gene Hackmanhad a decades-long love affair with the city of Santa Fe, N.M.,where he was found deadon Wednesday, Feb. 26. The Oscar-winning actor, 95, his wife,classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, 64, and their dog were discovered at their home. Their causes of death are still being determined in the ongoing investigation. Hackman, who was born in San Bernadino, Calif. and spent much of his childhood in Illinois, first fell for Santa Fe after working on several films there, according to a 1990Architectural Digestfeature about the Southwestern-style ranch home the couple shared.

Gene Hackman Said 'I Never Wanted to Be Anything but an Actor, I Love It' in Final Awards Show Appearance Before His Death

Gene Hackman accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2003 Golden Globes.Photo:Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Gene Hackmanreflected on his incredible acting career as he made his final awards show appearance at the 2003Golden Globes. TheSupermanstar, 95 — who wasfound dead at his Santa Fe homealongside his wifeBetsy Arakawa, 64, and their dog on Wednesday, Feb. 26 — had nothing but appreciation for his decades-long acting accomplishments as he took the stage toaccept the Cecil B.

Gene Hackman Suffered from Advanced Alzheimer's Disease and May Not Have Been 'Aware' Wife Betsy Died, Authorities Reveal

Gene Hackman and wife Betsy.Photo:Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Gene Hackman had “advanced” Alzheimer’s disease and may not have known that his wife was dead, authorities in New Mexicorevealed during a press conferenceon Friday, March 7. Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy, 65, were found in their Santa Fe home on Feb. 26, and their bodies were discovered in advanced states of decomposition. During the conference, New Mexico Chief Medical Examiner Heather Jarrell said that following an autopsy, the Oscar-winning actor’s brain showed he was suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s, as well as heart disease and hypertension, all of which contributed to his death.

Gene Hackman Was Likely Dead for 9 Days Before His Body Was Found: Sheriff

Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman.Photo:Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Gene Hackman’s pacemaker was last operational on Feb. 17, the Santa Fe County Sheriff said Friday afternoon, suggesting the Oscar-winning actor had been dead for nine days before he and his wife,Betsy Arakawa, were discovered in their New Mexico home. “I think that is a very good assumption that that was his last day of life,” Sheriff Adan Mendoza told reporters at a press conference on Friday, Feb.

Gene Hackman's Dog Cause of Death Still Under Investigation as Cops Confirm Pet Was 'Crated' Due to Surgical Procedure

Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in 2003.Photo:AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill The cause of death forGene Hackman’s dog Zinna is still unknown.The Hackmans' dog Zinna, an Australian Kelpie mix, is undergoing a necropsy to determine how it died, authorities said on Friday, March 7, while alsorevealing the cause of deathfor both Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa Hackman, 64.Betsy died from hantavirus, a flu-like virus linked to rodent droppings, and the Oscar-winning actordidn’t die until a week later, authorities shared in the press conference.