BREAKING: Legendary Actor, Wife and Dog Found Dead

Stack of newspapers with breaking news headline

(VitalNews.org) – In a dramatic turn of events, a two-time Oscar winner Hollywood legend was found dead alongside his wife and dog in their Santa Fe home.

Known for portraying strong, no-nonsense characters throughout his four-decade career, 95-year-old Gene Hackman retired from acting in 2004 to pursue a quiet life away from Hollywood.

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies discovered the bodies of Hackman, his 63-year-old wife Betsy Arakawa, and their dog in their New Mexico residence.

While authorities have launched an investigation, Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated there were no immediate signs of foul play.

“All I can say is that we’re in the middle of a preliminary death investigation, waiting on approval of a search warrant,” Sheriff Mendoza told reporters. “I want to assure the community and neighborhood that there’s no immediate danger to anyone.”

Hackman’s career spanned nearly 80 films over four decades, with his final role in 2004’s “Welcome to Mooseport.”

The actor earned his first Academy Award for portraying hard-nosed detective Popeye Doyle in 1971’s “The French Connection” and his second for playing unforgiving gunslinger William Munny in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 Western “Unforgiven.”

Hackman’s path to stardom began with true service to his country. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at just 16 years old, lying about his age to join.

After his military service, he studied journalism and television production at the University of Illinois before pursuing acting.

Hackman and Arakawa had been married for 34 years after meeting when she worked at a fitness club he frequented.

Before Betsy, Hackman was married to Faye Maltese, with whom he had three children.

“In the 10 years I’ve lived here, I’ve been taken with the excitement and indomitable spirit of this place,” Hackman once said about his adopted hometown of Santa Fe, where he was an active community member who served on the board of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

After retiring from Hollywood in 2004, Hackman focused on writing novels, painting, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life away from the spotlight. His decision to step away from acting came after health concerns.

“The straw that broke the camel’s back was actually a stress test that I took in New York,” Hackman revealed about his retirement decision.

He traded the demanding lifestyle of Hollywood for a quieter existence in New Mexico.

When once asked how he wanted to be remembered, Hackman replied with characteristic modesty.

“As a decent actor. As someone who tried to portray what was given to them in an honest fashion. I don’t know, beyond that. I don’t think about that often, to be honest. I’m at an age where I should think about it,” he said.

Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Hackman in “The Conversation,” paid tribute by saying:

“The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great artist, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”