Who was Gene Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa?

Classical pianist and second wife of Gene Hackman
She met Hackman when working in an LA gym
Found dead alongside Hackman in their Santa Fe home

Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Credit: Imago

Betsy Arakawa married Hollywood A-lister Gene Hackman in 1991. Despite being nearly two decades younger than Hackman, Arakawa would be a constant presence by his side until their untimely deaths in February 2025.

Who was Betsy Arakawa?

Born in Hawaii in 1961, Betsy Arakawa was of Japanese descent. She built a career as a classical pianist, showcasing her artistic skills in the highly disciplined field.

While little is publicly known about her early life and education, a meeting with Hackman in the 1980s would change her path forever. Arakawa maintained a private life, avoiding the limelight that often accompanies celebrity relationships.

How did Betsy Arakawa and Gene Hackman meet?

Arakawa and Hackman met when she was working part-time at a fitness center in Los Angeles to fund her music ambitions. At the time, Hackman was already a well-established actor with an impressive filmography that included The French Connection (1971), Superman (1978), and Hoosiers (1986). They fell in love and in 1984 Betsy moved into Hackman’s home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

During the time, Hackman was finalizing divorce from his wife, Fay Maltese. Faye, who died in 2017, and the Academy Award winner were married from 1956 to 1986. The couple shared kids Leslie Anne, Elizabeth Jean and Christopher Allen.

Hackman kept his relationship with Arakawa private but clarified that he had not abandoned his first wife, Faye Maltese, for her. “By the way, I did not leave my real-life wife for a younger woman. We just drifted apart. We lost sight of each other. When you work in this business, marriage takes a great deal of work and love.”

Arakawa’s support for Hackman

Arakawa was a constant presence and source of strength by Hackman's side — Arakawa was a constant presence and source of strength by Hackman’s side Credit: Imago

Arakawa played a crucial role in shaping their life together, becoming a stepmother to Hackman’s three children and providing support on all fronts. She managed renovations of their Santa Fe home and collaborated with Hackman on the details of their while he was away filming. It was featured in Architectural Digest in 1990.

The couple were animal lovers and in 1999 adopted a dog while Hackman was filming The Replacements in Baltimore, alongside Keanu Reeves. Two stray dogs wandered onto the set and Hackman took them to a local shelter, which named the dogs Gene and Keanu. Arakawa and Hackman would eventually adopt the one named after Hackman.

When Hackman retired from acting in 2000, Arakawa supported him as he transitioned from acting to writing. She offered him detailed feedback on his novels and was a great influence on his work.

The couple lived a very private life but in 2020, Hackman made some rare comments about their weekly TV rituals. “We like simple stories that some of the little low-budget films manage to produce. Friday night is set aside for a Comedy Channel marathon with particular attention paid to Eddie Izzard. The speed of thought is amazing.”