Beloved Oscar-Winning Star Mourned by Animal Rescue Organization

Gene Hackman is being remembered by an organization close to his heart.
After The French Connection actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as well as one of their beloved dogs, were found dead in their New Mexico home, the animal shelter they dedicated their time to expressed how much the couple meant to them.
Join us to hear the heartfelt send-off from the charity to Hackman…
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"We are mourning the passing of our most famous adopter Gene Hackman," Animal Rescue, Inc. shared to their Facebook account on Thursday, February 27, alongside a snapshot of the A-lister and a pup. "He was an amazing actor and dog lover."
On Wednesday, February 26, authorities responded to a welfare check at the couple's Santa Fe mansion, where the 95-year-old and his 63-year-old spouse's bodies were discovered.

"Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time however exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office," officials said in a statement.
In recent years, the foundation shared a birthday tribute to Hackman and expressed how deeply he loved animals. "Happy 94th birthday to our most famous adopter, Gene Hackman!!" they wrote in a social media update.  

"While filming The Replacements in Baltimore in 1999, two stray dogs wandered onto the movie set. Both dogs were transported to us via limousine and the Hackmans came up the following week and adopted one of them. #adoptdontshop," the sheltered recalled.
Despite the tragedy, Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza confirmed the pair's two other pooches were found alive inside the house.

Tributes from Hollywood's elite began to pour in for Hackman after the horrifying news broke. "The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration," Francis Ford Coppola — who worked with the star in 1974 film The Conversation — wrote in an Instagram post.
"Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity. I mourn his loss and celebrate his existence and contribution," he continued.

According to an affidavit released by police, Hackman and Arakawa's deaths are "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation." The bodies had reportedly been dead for a day when authorities breached the property.
A cause of death for both parties has yet to be revealed.