Before Gene Hackman was found deceased alongside his wife and dog in their New Mexico home, the Oscar-winning actor—best known for his portrayal of Lex Luthor opposite

Christopher Reeve’s Superman—had shared a heartfelt detail about his love story with Betsy Arakawa, whom he married in 1991. Hollywood is mourning the loss of one of its

most esteemed actors, Gene Hackman. The two-time Academy Award winner was found dead on February 26, alongside his wife, Betsy Arakawa, and their pet dog in their Santa

Fe, New Mexico home. According to the Associated Press, police conducted a welfare check around 1:45 p.m. when deputies discovered the bodies of Hackman, 95, Arakawa, 63,

and their dog in their large Southwestern-style ranch, located in a gated community. Hackman and Arakawa’s relationship began in the mid-1980s when they met at a California

gym where she worked part-time. Despite their 30-year age difference, they built a deep and lasting connection. After marrying in 1991, the couple moved to their home on Old

Sunset Trail, a picturesque location overlooking the Rocky Mountains. During his earlier years in Santa Fe, Hackman was frequently seen around town. However, as time went

on, he became increasingly reclusive, with public sightings becoming rare. He and Arakawa embraced a quiet life away from the spotlight. vIn a 2008 interview with Reuters,

Hackman confirmed his retirement from acting, though he had never formally announced it. “I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to

act any longer,” he admitted. Though he acknowledged missing the craft, he found the pressures of the industry too overwhelming. “The business for me is very stressful. The

compromises that you have to make in films are just part of the beast, and it had gotten to a point where I just didn’t feel like I wanted to do it anymore,” he explained.