<p id=”par-1_90″>Gene Hackman, famed for movies like <em><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/hoosiers-director-once-said-working-with-gene-hackman-was-1-of-the-most-unpleasant-experiences-in-my-life.html/”>Hoosiers </a></em>and <em>Wyatt Earp, </em>took his leave from Hollywood in 2008 after 40 years in the industry. Still<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/celebrity-deaths/?swcfpc=1″>, the famed actor’s death</a> and the death of his wife, Betsy Arakawa, sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. Hackman and Arakawa were found deceased by police on February 26. He was 95, she was 64. Hackman and Arakawa preferred a private life in more recent years, and so did Hackman’s children. Here is everything we know about the three kids he shared with his first wife.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-gene-hackman-and-wife-found-dead”>Gene Hackman and wife found dead</h2>
<p id=”par-2_70″>Gene Hackman and <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/gene-hackmans-wife-betsy-arakawa-times-married.html/”>his wife, Betsy Arakawa,</a> were found deceased inside their home in New Mexico. The discovery came on February 26. While a cause of death was not immediately available, initial reports suggested foul play was not suspected. More recently, TMZ has reported that there is some suspicion surrounding the deaths. The incident is still being investigated.The couple had lived outside of Santa Fe for more than 30 years. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Gene-Hackman-Betsy-Arakawa.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Hackman is wearing a black suit and has his arm around his wife, who is wearing a black sleeveless dress.” class=”wp-image-3782482″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards | Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-3_72″>According to <a href=”https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/entertainment/gene-hackman-betsy-arakawa-death/index.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>CNN</a>, police responded to Hackman’s home after a concerned party requested a welfare check. They did not reveal what prompted the neighbor to make the call. Upon responding to the house, police entered the property and found both Hackman and his longtime wife dead. They were located in different rooms, claim sources. Police also found one of several dogs deceased. It was not immediately clear when they died. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-how-many-children-did-gene-hackman-have”>How many children did Gene Hackman have?</h2>
<p id=”par-4_69″>Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa married in 1991, although they were spotted together in the late 1980s. The pair appeared together often at industry events while <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/gene-hackman-oscars.html/”>Hackman was still acting. </a>The actor and the classical pianist were occasionally spotted out and about together in more recent years. Despite their longstanding marriage, they never had children together. Hackman did welcome three children during his previous marriage to Faye Maltese, though.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Gene-Hackman-wife-and-kids.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Gene Hackman’s daughters and wife attend the premiere of ‘The Chambers’ with him ” class=”wp-image-3782516″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Gene Hackman with wife and daughters | Getty Images / Stringer</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_57″>Hackman’s eldest child, Christopher Hackman, was born in 1960. The famed actor once revealed that his son was interested in acting. However, little else was said about the interest. Hackman also welcomed two daughters with his first wife. Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman joined the family before Hackman and Maltese split in 1986 after 30 years of marriage.</p>
<p id=”par-6_45″>Hackman’s daughters have appeared with him at premieres, but neither is currently a public figure. Elizabeth did speak to <a href=”https://www.tmz.com/2025/02/27/gene-hackman-family-suspects-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-death/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>TMZ </a>following news of her father’s death. She told the publication that carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, although an official cause has not been determined. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Gene-Hackman-kids.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Gene Hackman attends the premiere of ‘Superman’ with his children, Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie” class=”wp-image-3782518″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Gene Hackman and children during Presidential Premiere of ‘Superman’ in | Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-7_98″>While all three children accompanied Hackman to premieres and events, things behind the scenes could be uneasy. Hackman had spoken about his complicated relationship with his children several times over the years. In 1989, he revealed that spending months separated from his family for work had affected their dynamic. Hackman noted he was <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/gene-hackmans-net-worth.html/”>motivated by money</a>. In 2011, he echoed the sentiments during an interview with GQ. Still, Hackman seemed deeply aware of how his acting career had impacted his children and their lives, revealing that he imagined being the child of a celebrity must be difficult.</p>