A small, empty area of grass sits beneath a tree adorned with wind chimes and a single seashell.
The Daily Mail has discovered that the seemingly ordinary gravesite belongs to acclaimed actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa.
A year after the legendary actor’s death, the location remains unmarked, and there’s no sign anyone visited to commemorate the anniversary, even with something as small as flowers.
Although actor Gene Hackman has passed away, a legal dispute over his will is still ongoing. Documents obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that he intentionally left out all three of his adult children, with whom he had no contact at the time of his death.
Maintenance workers discovered the bodies of 95-year-old Hackman and 65-year-old Arakawa at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 26 of last year.
Arakawa was last seen at a CVS in Santa Fe on February 11, 2025. She last contacted someone on February 12th, calling her doctor to report breathing difficulties.
The Santa Fe Medical Examiner reported that a 65-year-old man died that same day from hantavirus, a respiratory illness spread by rats.
After Arakawa passed away, Hackman, who had Alzheimer’s disease, remained at their home for a week without understanding what had happened. He sadly died himself on February 18th.
It was so touching to learn that Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Lynn, were laid to rest together just a month after she passed. They’re buried at the Santa Fe Memorial Gardens, under a beautiful tree on the lawn. The ceremony was very private, just for their three children – Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie – which feels like exactly how they’d have wanted it. It’s comforting to know they’re at peace together.
Although none of the three siblings have visited their father’s grave, court documents reveal they are all involved in the legal process handling his estate, which includes an estimated $80 million fortune.
Gene Hackman’s estate increased by $6.25 million last month with the sale of his 53-acre property in Summit Santa Fe, an exclusive gated community. The sale occurred exactly one year after the acclaimed actor passed away.
In addition to the 13,000-square-foot main house, the buyer will also receive a three-bedroom guest house and the studio where Hackman enjoyed painting.
In December, the estate of Gene Hackman gained an additional $3 million when Bonhams in New York auctioned off 400 items from the actor’s collection, including personal possessions and memorabilia from films like The Birdcage.
The auction featured Gene Hackman’s three Golden Globe awards, earned for his performances in The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven, and The French Connection.
The auction also included items from his acting career, such as an early draft of the script for the horror movie Silence of the Lambs from 1988, and charcoal drawings Hackman made at his home studio in Santa Fe.
The exhibition also featured a bronze nude sculpture by French artist Auguste Rodin and a painting titled Figure on the Jetty by modernist painter Milton Avery.
Before the auction, Andrew Huber, head of 20th and 21st-century art at Bonhams, described the pieces as highly valued works with a clear and trustworthy history, made even more special by their connection to a celebrated actor.
Hackman wasn’t just a collector; he was an artist too. He approached collecting with the same attention to detail, artistic sense, and dedication that he brought to his own work.
Although Gene Hackman achieved fame in Hollywood, his personal life was difficult. He had a strained relationship with all three of his children from his thirty-year marriage to Faye Maltese, and they were not close to him when he passed away.
I was absolutely floored when I found out! The Daily Mail actually got a copy of Gene Hackman’s will, and can you believe he didn’t leave a single penny to his kids? All of it – everything – went to his wife, Arakawa, the woman he married back in ’91. It’s just… unbelievable. I’ve been following his career for years, and to think his children weren’t even mentioned… it’s heartbreaking, honestly.
I was shocked to learn, after reviewing Arakawa’s will – which the Daily Mail also obtained – that she didn’t mention her children at all. Instead, she specifically requested that all of her possessions be donated to charity. It’s a really surprising decision, and I can’t help but feel for everyone involved.
The legal processes for handling the estates of both Hackman and Arakawa are still ongoing. Trustees are continuing to pay off debts, including a recent $1,800 credit card bill paid on January 26th.
The estate of Gene Hackman also filed a lawsuit against the Santa Fe Medical Examiner, requesting that photos taken at the scene of his death not be made public.
Similar to what happened during the probate proceedings, Hackman’s three children requested to be involved in this case as well. They submitted a detailed motion asking officials not to publish any photos of their father after he passed away.
That case was subsequently closed due to inactivity.
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2026-03-09 23:21