Pianist Betsy Arakawa has Died, Aged 65

Arakawa and her husband, the actor Gene Hackman, were found dead at their Santa Fe property

The pianist Betsy Arakawa, who was married to the Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, has been found dead — in a situation which police described as "suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation."

On Wednesday, a maintenance worker alerted local sheriff's deputies that the couple, alongside one of their dogs, were both dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Born in 1959, Arakawa grew up in Honolulu, where she first began learning the piano. At a young age, she made a solo appearance at the Honolulu International Center Concert Hall, as well as performing with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (now the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra).

She studied social sciences and communications at the University of Southern California, and later received a master’s degree in liberal arts from St. John’s College in New Mexico.

Arakawa first met Gene Hackman in the 1980s, and the couple married in 1991. Following their marriage, Arakawa chose to step away from performing. In the years that followed, she supported Hackman with many aspects of his work — including making edits to the draft versions of his historical novels.

In 2001, Arakawa opened the home furnishings store Pandora's in Santa Fe, and ran the business alongside her close friend Barbara Lenihan up until the time of her death.

She is survived by her stepchildren Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie, as well as a grandchild.

Our condolences to Azakawa's family, friends, and colleagues.