Inside Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's Life in Santa Fe Before Deaths

Even after two decades away from the spotlight, Gene Hackman’s connection to Hollywood was undeniable.

With two Oscars, 40-plus years in the industry and hundreds of roles across the screen and stage, the actor’s legacy will continue to live on following his death.

“He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa,” Hackman's daughters Elizabeth and Leslie Hackman and granddaughter Annie Hackman said in a statement to E! News. “We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

The 95-year-old, his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65, and one of their dogs were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Feb. 26, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to NBC News.

A weeks long investigation—including autopsies, a search of their home, digging through their cell phone activity—filled in the blanks of what happened, with the story proving to be even more upsetting than it was at first glance. 

Authorities received a call at around 1:43 p.m. on Feb 26 regarding two deceased individuals in the home. The affidavit states two maintenance workers at the house informed deputies they did routine jobs for the homeowners and that they'd found the residence’s door ajar. It also notes deputies "did not observe any signs of forced entry into the home."

According to a sheriff's office news release obtained by NBC News, one of the maintenance workers contacted neighborhood security for a welfare check after hearing no answer from the homeowners. During the check, the release continues, security looked through a window and saw Hackman and Arakawa unresponsive, leading to a 911 call and the arrival of the sheriff's office deputies.

Once inside, the affidavit continues, a deputy found a deceased woman on the floor in the bathroom and a space heater near her head, with it being suspected "the heater could have fallen in the event the female abruptly fell to the ground." 

Ten to 15 feet away in a bathroom closet, the documents continue, a deceased German-Shepard was found. Two living dogs were also located on the property.

In addition, the affidavit says a deceased male was found in what appeared to be the home’s mudroom—with the deputy suspecting the male had "suddenly fallen."

Though originally born in San Bernardino, Calif., Hackman had called New Mexico home for decades. After working in Santa Fe on a few movies, The French Connection star told Architectural Digest in 1990, he found the city “had a kind of magic in it,” and it became a beloved place for both him and Arakawa.

"I paint and draw, and my wife is a classical pianist," he told Charlie Rose in 1999. "It has a lot of cultural opportunities."

Hackman and Maltese separated in 1982 and divorced four years later. But unlike his character in 1985’s Twice in a Lifetime, “I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman,” he once told Florida’s Sun Sentinel. "We just drifted apart."

And the Unforgiven alum admitted navigating a relationship in the limelight was no easy feat.

"We lost sight of each other," he continued. "When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love."

Throughout his career, Hackman took on a variety of film roles—including Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection, comic book villain Lex Luthor in the Superman movies and Coach Norman Dale in Hoosiers. He also starred in several Broadway productions, including Children From Their Games, Any Wednesday and Death and the Maiden. 

“When I’m actually on the set or on a stage, actually doing the work, I loved that process and I loved the creative process of trying to bring a character to life,” Hackman told Empire in 2009. “And then, when you’re actually shooting or performing, there is a kind of a feeling that comes over you, a confidence and kind of a wonderful, washed-over feeling of wellbeing, if you will. When it’s going well!”

Still, Hackman seemed to enjoy this quieter chapter. During his free time, The Conversation actor would watch "DVDS that my wife rents," he told Empire. "We like simple stories that some of the low-budget films manage to produce."

The outlet also noted he watched Comedy Channel marathons every Friday night—with comedian Eddie Izzard among his faves—and reveled in painting and eating fish.

And though Hackman—who at one point also participated in racing, flying and diving—was done with filmmaking, he hadn’t retired from all his professions completely. He went on to write several books with Daniel Lenihan—including Justice for None and Escape from Andersonville—as well as a few on his own, such as Pursuit and Payback at Morning Peak. 

"I think it was a natural transition," he noted to the outlet of switching from acting to writing. "One asks oneself questions as an actor like, 'where am I coming from? Where am I going? What do I want?' Those three simple things can carry you a long way as an actor. As a writer, you can start the same way."