Betsy Arakawa, a classical musician and small-business owner, was found dead alongside her husband, actor Gene Hackman, at their Santa Fe home. She was 65, and the cause of death is under investigation. Arakawa played a significant role in Hackman’s writing career, helping edit his novels and providing invaluable feedback. Born in Honolulu, she was a talented pianist and performer. The couple married in 1991, blending their lives while maintaining a private existence despite Hackman’s fame. Arakawa co-owned a home furnishings store, Pandora’s, with a long-time friend, up until her death. She is survived by her stepchildren and grandchild.
Betsy Arakawa, a classical musician and entrepreneur who was married to Gene Hackman and played a crucial role in editing his novels, was found deceased alongside him at their residence in Santa Fe, N.M., local authorities reported on Thursday. She was 65 years old.
Sheriff’s deputies discovered the bodies of Ms. Arakawa and Mr. Hackman, aged 95, along with one of their dogs, on Wednesday afternoon, as stated by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department. The cause of death remains unclear and is currently under investigation.
Mr. Hackman, a recipient of two Academy Awards from five nominations, had a distinguished acting career spanning 40 years. In his later years, he transitioned into writing, producing three historical novels, crediting his writing style partly to Ms. Arakawa.
“If I have a style, it came from repeated edits, friends’ suggestions, and my wife’s unwavering, specific read-throughs,” he shared on the “Writer’s Bone” podcast in 2014.
Mr. Hackman would compose his works using pen and paper, while Ms. Arakawa would type them up on a computer, making edits and discussing character insights, as recounted by Barbara Lenihan, a long-time friend of the couple.
“She was deeply engaged in his work,” Ms. Lenihan stated. “She made it feasible for him to pursue it.”
Betsy Machiko Arakawa was born on December 15, 1959, and raised in Honolulu. She began her piano studies early on, and at age 11, performed before thousands at the Honolulu International Center Concert Hall, now known as the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. She later played with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, now the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra.
After relocating to Los Angeles, she attended the University of Southern California from 1981 to 1983, earning a degree in social sciences and communication. During this period, she cheered for the Los Angeles Aztecs, a professional soccer team, and worked as a production assistant on the television game show “Card Sharks,” as reported by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. She later attained a master’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College in New Mexico in 1991.
She met Mr. Hackman in the 1980s while working part-time at a fitness center in Los Angeles and aspiring to succeed as a classical musician. Mr. Hackman had three children from a previous marriage; he and Ms. Arakawa married in 1991 and settled in Santa Fe. She is survived by her stepchildren, Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie, along with a grandchild.
In 1989, while dating Mr. Hackman, she performed a concert for residents at a retirement home that served as a German nursing home in his film “The Package.” After their marriage, she largely withdrew from public performances.
Despite her marriage to a prominent actor, Ms. Arakawa maintained her privacy, sidestepping interviews and social media. She accompanied Mr. Hackman to awards ceremonies and frequently visited the sets of his films, yet shunned the public eye.
“She participated in many Hollywood events, but she was very private,” Ms. Lenihan remarked. “I believe she managed to preserve the boundaries of their shared life exceptionally well, and he valued that.”
In 2001, Ms. Arakawa, who had a talent for interior design, launched Pandora’s, a linens and home furnishings store in Santa Fe, in partnership with Ms. Lenihan. The two friends continued to run the establishment until Ms. Arakawa’s passing.
Kitty Bennett contributed research.