American actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead on Wednesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The authorities in New Mexico said Mr Hackman and his wife were found dead at a home where they had been living, according to a statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department, and they did not “believe any foul play was a factor.”

Born January 30, 1930, in San Bernardino, California, Mr Hackman’s career spanned over four decades, known for his rugged appearance and emotionally authentic performances.

At 16, Mr Hackman left home to join the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a radio operator. 

Thereafter, he pursued acting, gaining recognition as Buck Barrow in ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. 

He won his first Oscar for Best Actor as Detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle in ‘The French Connection’ and a second for Best Supporting Actor as a vengeful sheriff in ‘ Unforgiven’.

Mr Hackman married his first wife, Faye Maltese, in 1956, and they were together for 30 years. They raised three children before getting divorced in 1986.

He married again in 1991 to Arakawa, a classical pianist, and the couple resided in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Mr Hackman started writing after retiring from acting in 2004. 

He co-authored several historical fiction novels, like ‘Wake of the Perdido Star’ and ‘Escape from Andersonville’.