The news of Gene Heckman and his wife Betsy Arakawa‘s sudden deaths has shocked the entertainment industry. The two-time Oscar-winning actor was married to Arakawa for over three decades.
Who was Gene Hackman’s wife?
Gene Heckman was married to Betsy Arakawa.
The celebrity couple tied the knot in 1991. Right from the beginning of their marriage, the duo stayed at their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home. The duo reportedly started dating in the 80’s after meeting at a gym (via Daily Mail).
Here’s how many kids Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa have
Hackman and Betsy Arakawa do not have children of their own. However, Arakawa was the stepmother of The French Connection star’s three children from his previous marriage. The late actor was the father of three kids from his marriage with Faye Maltese: son Christopher Allen and daughters Leslie Anne and Elizabeth Jean.
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s relationship explained
Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s relationship started when the award-winning actor was close to retiring from his acting career, though he did not make any official announcements for a decade.
Hackman and Arakawa reportedly started living together by 1990. During the same year, Hackman went through angioplasty, a minimally invasive procedure due to artery blockage. Hackman’s state of health was one of the factors that convinced him to retire from films (via AARP: The Magazine).
Hackman shifted his focus to writing after “unofficially” retiring from acting. The late actor had gushed about Arakawa’s crucial support that shaped his career as an author. The Unforgiven star told Writer’s Bone, “If in fact I have a style, it came from repeated edits, friends’ suggestions, and my wife’s unwavering, specific read-throughs.”
Hackman published at least five books under his name, three historical novels, co-written with undersea archaeologist Daniel Lenihan, and two solo efforts. His last novel, Pursuit, came out in 2013.
Apart from helping Hackman in his author career, Arakawa also significantly contributed to making their Santa Fe home an aesthetic wonder. Their house features a fusion of southwestern style and modernity. Hackman called it the place where gossip doesn’t bother them.
While Arakawa and Hackman had an age difference of over 30 years, they maintained the fun in their relationships by going on date nights and more. Speaking of their activities together, Hackman told Empire in 2020, “We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce.”
Originally reported by Arpita Adhya on ComingSoon.
