Gene Hackman and his wife found dead at their home

Oscar-winning US actor Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog have been found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the BBC reported citing authorities. 

In a career spanning more than six decades, Hackman received two Academy Awards for his work on the movies The French Connection and Unforgiven.

A statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff in New Mexico said: "We can confirm that both Gene Hackman and his wife were found deceased Wednesday afternoon at their residence on Sunset Trail.

"This is an active investigation - however, at this time we do not believe that foul play was a factor."

Hackman was 95, and his wife - a classical pianist - 64.

He won the best actor Oscar for his role as Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in William Friedkin's 1971 thriller The French Connection, and another for best supporting actor for playing Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood's Western film Unforgiven in 1992.

His other Oscar-nominated roles were in the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde - as Buck Barrow in his breakthrough role, opposite Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway - and 1970's I Never Sang for My Father, as well as playing the agent in Mississippi Burning in 1988.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's office said: "On 26 February, 2025 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95 and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64 and a dog were found deceased."