Hackman won two Academy Awards for his work on 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 last 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 - 63.

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 included 1967's 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. Both films saw him recognised in the supporting actor category. He was also nominated for best leading actor in 1988 for playing the agent in Mississippi Burning.

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

In 2008 he told Reuters that despite the lack of any official announcement, he was "not going to act any longer". "I've been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don't want to do it any longer." He also explained he was focusing his attentions away from the big screen and towards his quieter, calmer passion for writing novels. "I was trained to be an actor, not a star. I was trained to play roles, not to deal with fame and agents and lawyers and the press," he once said.